Aero Commander S2R accident near Cuthbert, Georgia, July 25, 2019
On July 25, 2019 at about 11:25 pm local time, a 1974 Aero Commander S2R, registered N5680X, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Cuthbert, Georgia. 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 failure of the No. 1 bearing due to fatigue which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. The reason for the bearing failure could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2019 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Cuthbert, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R, built 1974 · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5680X · registry record · serial 1880R
- 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 reported that, about 5 minutes after takeoff, at an altitude about 500 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the compressor front support (No. 1) bearing had failed, resulting in compressor rotor misalignment. The rotor misalignment resulted in severe impeller-to-shroud rub, including wear-through in several locations, flow disruption, and the engine power loss. The reason for the bearing failure could not be determined based on the available information.
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 (partial) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Compressor section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Compressor section › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,496 hours in all; 6,934 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 14, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Precision Aerial LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 25J Cuthbert GA at 11:20 pm
- Destination: 25J Cuthbert GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from KBIJ, 13 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA19LA238.