Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Winchester, Arkansas, May 19, 2006
On May 19, 2006 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-T34, registered N283TA, was destroyed in an accident near Winchester, Arkansas (Private Strip 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 failure to abort the takeoff following the partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the rising embankment at the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2006 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Winchester, Arkansas · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Registration
- N283TA · registry record · serial T34-240
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 19,168-hour commercial pilot reported that on initial takeoff roll from a 3,900-feet long, by 75-feet wide private airstrip, the engine lost power. The pilot reported that he "released some of the load" to clear a ditch; however, the aircraft's main landing gear and tail struck an embankment resulting in damage to the landing gear. The pilot reported that he proceeded to "finish the load," while confirming the damage with another aircraft. The pilot added that the turbine engine was losing torque so he elected to perform a precautionary landing in a soft agricultural field. Once the landing was assured, the pilot switched both the fuel and electrical system to the off position. During the initial landing roll, the main landing gear sheared off and the aircraft slid to a stop. The pilot reported that while exiting the aircraft he heard "a big noise in the engine" followed by "flames and smoke coming out of the exhaust." Sometime thereafter, according to the pilot, he and four witnesses heard aircraft's engine start on its own. The turbine engine continued to run until the plane exploded and became engulfed in flames. The reason for the reported engine fire could not be determined. At the time of the accident, the weather was reported as wind from 210 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots, 10 statue miles visibility, clear skies, with temperature of 91 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point of 59 degrees Fahrenheit and an altimeter setting of 29.89 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 19,168 hours in all; 996 in this make and model; 99 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 19,168 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,363 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 2005; 100.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Tillar AR at 6:30 pm
- Destination: Tillar AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KLLQ, 13 miles away
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.