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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2019 · about 11:25 pm local time · cases in 2019
- 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 other cases naming the engine
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › Compressor section › Unknown/Not determined other cases naming the engine
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 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD Investigative Photographs Peter Wentz Air Safety Investigator Eastern Region Aviation NTSB Accident Number: ERA19LA238 Date: July 25, 2019 Figure 1 – Accident airplane.
Figure 2 – Front view of accident airplane. Figure 3 – Left main gear.
Figure 4 – Rudder damage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on February 25, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB 6120 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Interview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Powerplants Group Chairman's Factual Report | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Investigative Photograghs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5680X on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Aero Commander S2 60 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aero Commander 709 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 42 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Randolph County · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Georgia 2,138 since 1982 · 361 in the last ten years
- Georgia 8,800 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA19LA238.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.