Aero Commander S2R accident near Sisseton, South Dakota, June 7, 1990
On June 7, 1990 at about 1:45 am local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N5649X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sisseton, South Dakota. 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
A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. FUEL STARVATION WAS CAUSED BY A MISSING FUEL VALVE SUPPORT CLAMP AND A RESULTANT CRACKED FUEL LINE. INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS AND ROUGH, UNEVEN TERRAIN WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1990 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Sisseton, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5649X · no longer on the register · serial 1849R
- 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 HAD JUST FINISHED SPRAYING A WHEAT FIELD AND WAS IN A LEFT BANK, PULLING UP FROM THE SWATH RUN, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO RESTORE PARTIAL POWER BY OPERATING THE WOBBLE PUMP, BUT IT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT. DURING THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING, THE RIGHT WING AND LANDING GEAR WERE TORN OFF, THE PROPELLER WAS BENT, AND THE FUSELAGE DAMAGED. ADEQUATE FUEL WAS FOUND IN BOTH FUEL TANKS. A BRASS NIPPLE, CONNECTING THE FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVE TO THE WOBBLE PUMP, WAS FOUND CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL. THE CRACK HAD PROPAGATED APPROXIMATELY TWO-THIRDS OF ITS CIRCUMFERENCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE FUEL VALVE SUPPORT CLAMP, DESIGNED TO RELIEVE LOADS AND STRESSES ON THE BRASS NIPPLE, WAS MISSING. EXAMINATION OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS SHOWED THE LAST RECORDED ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 31, 1983.
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: 2,859 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, August 31, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8D3 Sisseton SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°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.