Ayres S2R accident near Vincennes, Indiana, May 13, 1984
On May 13, 1984, a Ayres S2R, registered N4006U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vincennes, Indiana (Ueding airport). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1984
- Place
- Vincennes, Indiana · Ueding · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R
- Registration
- N4006U · no longer on the register · serial 2500
- 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 PLT HAD FLOWN 12 SIMILAR LOADS FROM THE 2600 FT RWY THAT SAME DAY. HE STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH THE ACFT, IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY DURING THE LAST TAKEOFF ROLL. AFTER APRX 2000 FT OF GROUND ROLL, HE DUMPED A PORTION OF HIS LOAD (FERTILIZER) TO CLEAR A DITCH AT THE DEPARTURE END. THE ACFT LIFTED OFF & CLEARED THE DITCH, BUT IT THEN SETTLED. THE SPRAY BOOM CAUGHT THE WHEAT & SPUN THE ACFT AROUND 180 DEG & IT CRASHED. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 60 LBS BELOW ITS MAX GROSS WT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 2,150 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 7,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1984; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.