Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Des Arc, Arkansas, May 27, 2008
On May 27, 2008 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-T34, registered N3105E, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Des Arc, Arkansas. 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 engine power while maneuvering for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2008 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Des Arc, Arkansas · 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
- N3105E · registry record · serial T34-177
- 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 was beginning his second aerial application run of the day and reported that he had just entered a 45 degree turn when he "heard the engine blow and saw smoke", the airplane then began to "drop like a rock". The wing struck the ground first followed by the propeller, the right main tire, right wingtip and the tail. There was substantial damage to both wings, the empennage, and the tail surfaces. The loss of engine power was undetermined.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Crew member
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,630 hours in all; 3,090 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 1, 2008
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,394 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A SERIES (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bell AG Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Des Arc AR at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from LIT, 39 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N3105E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.