Thrush Aircraft, Inc. S2R-T34 accident near Naranjal, Ec, October 2, 2012
On October 2, 2012 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Thrush Aircraft, Inc. S2R-T34, registered HCCFU, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Naranjal. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under non-U.S. private rules. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 2012 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Naranjal, Ecuador · 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-T34
- Registration
- HCCFU · no longer on the register · serial 34-276
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 2, 2012, a Thrush S2R-T34, Ecuadorian registration HC-CFU, operated by a private owner, was substantially damaged following an engine failure and collision with terrain near Naranjal Province, Guayas, Ecuador. The flight's last departure point and its intended destination were from an unnamed dirt strip near Guayas, Ecuador. The pilot was not injured. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Ecuador. Further information can be obtained from: DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION E5-56 Columbus Avenue and La Rabida, South Tower Building 10th Ave Maria. Quito, Ecuador This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Ecuador.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 15,493 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,140 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Naranjal
- Destination: Naranjal
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from SECU
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.