Ayres Corporation S2R-G6 accident near Kilbourne, Illinois, July 15, 2008
On July 15, 2008 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Ayres Corporation S2R-G6, registered N3105U, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Kilbourne, Illinois. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate preflight planning and preparation and the aborted takeoff not performed by the pilot. Contributing to the accident were the trees and transmission wire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2008 · about 3:30 pm local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- Kilbourne, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S2R-G6 · all S2R-G6s on the register
- Registration
- N3105U · registry record · serial G6-108
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the agricultural airplane was fueled with 110 gallons of fuel and loaded with 450 gallons of water and chemical mix for a local aerial application flight. The pilot then taxied the airplane to and attempted a takeoff from runway 27 (3,500 feet by 75). The pilot stated that the engine seemed normal during the takeoff roll. About halfway down the runway, the airplane did not "respond" so he began dumping the load but stopped because there was a car traveling along Illinois Route 47, which is west of the runway departure end. The airplane became airborne and impacted a tree and a power line and came to rest in a corn field about 150 yards west of Route 47. The wing spar was damaged. The pilot stated that he should have used a lesser load for takeoff.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,654 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-6-252 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Plath Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 32IS Kilbourne IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N3105U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N3105U on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Ayres Corporation S-2 243 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Ayres Corporation 243 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-6-252 7 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Baker Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Illinois 2,118 since 1982 · 251 in the last ten years
- Illinois 8,070 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N3105U 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI08CA193.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.