Ayres S2R-T15 accident near Taylor, Texas, August 31, 2005
On August 31, 2005 at about 5:00 am local time, a Ayres S2R-T15, registered N4010M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taylor, Texas (Taylor Municipal 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 pilot's misjudgement while landing resulting in an overrun. A factor was fluctuating engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2005 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Taylor, Texas · Taylor Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T15
- Registration
- N4010M · no longer on the register · serial T15-001
- 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 14,000-hour pilot shut down the 750-horsepower engine on the agricultural airplane after the engine began surging between idle and full power. He stated in the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he elected to divert to a nearby airport. The pilot shut down the engine prematurely which resulted in a higher than desired altitude with a high approach airspeed. The airplane touched down long and fast on the 4,000 foot long runway, resulting in an overrun. The pilot attempted to intentionally ground loop the airplane to avoid overrunning the departure end of the runway; however, he was unable due to the surface of the runway being damp. The airplane overran the departure end of the runway, collided with trees, and came to rest in a creek. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as clear skies, calm winds, temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter 29.87 inches of Mercury.
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: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,771 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell TPE-331-6-252 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T74 Taylor TX
- Destination: T74 Taylor TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KGTU
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.