Ayres S2T-T65 accident near Magdalena, New Mexico, January 8, 2004
On January 8, 2004 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Ayres S2T-T65, registered N3100E, was destroyed in an accident near Magdalena, New Mexico. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
loss of engine power for reasons undetermined. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2004 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Magdalena, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2T-T65
- Registration
- N3100E · registry record · serial S2RHG-T65
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on a mountain aerial application training mission for the U.S. Department of State. The two pilots reported that they had made two uneventful spray runs. On the third spray run, at approximately ten feet agl, the instructor pilot noticed [and confirmed by the engine gauges] a power loss. He took control of the airplane and performed a forced landing. The airplane impacted the terrain, bounced, and proceeded over a steep embankment where it came to rest. A postimpact fire ensued, consuming the airplane.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 19,600 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,100 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 4,900 as pilot in command; 760 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 19, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,615 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 3, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 105,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ABQ Albuquerque NM at 3:00 pm
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from ABQ, 65 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.