Thrush Aircraft INC S2R-T660 accident near Greenwood, Mississippi, May 13, 2011
On May 13, 2011 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Thrush Aircraft INC S2R-T660, registered N660KP, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Greenwood, Mississippi. 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 partial loss of engine power during low-altitude 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 13, 2011 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Greenwood, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thrush Aircraft INC S2R-T660 · all S2R-T660s on the register
- Registration
- N660KP · registry record · serial T660-122DC
- 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 experienced agricultural application pilot reported that, after takeoff with adequate fuel, he flew to a local spray area and completed about 12 passes uneventfully. After the last pass, the pilot initiated a short climb to clear a transmission line. At that time, the airplane seemed to experience a partial loss of engine power. The pilot immediately lowered the nose of the airplane and began to look for a field in which to land. Engine power returned momentarily before the engine again seemed to lose power, and the pilot decided to land straight ahead into a bean field. During the landing, the airplane struck a ditch and came to rest upright. The pilot was not sure if the engine or the propeller was surging. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the propeller blades were observed in the feather position and had been rotating at low power during the impact with the ditch. The pilot was not sure if he positioned the propeller to feather during shutdown or if it went to feather upon striking the ditch. External and borescope examinations of the engine did not reveal any impact damage, anomalies, or preimpact mechanical failures. Jet A fuel was present in the high-pressure filter bowl, and it did not contain any contamination. Additional examination of the propeller and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have explained the engine or propeller surge reported by the pilot.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 28,780 hours in all; 309 in this make and model; 309 in the last 90 days; 53 in the last 30 days; 28,606 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 28, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,553 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 27, 2011; 102 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: AG Concepts Inc
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Morgan City MS at 3:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Morgan City MS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from GWO, 20 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.
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.