Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Aubrey, Arkansas, May 24, 2002
On May 24, 2002 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-T34, registered N4025Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aubrey, Arkansas (Old Gibson airport). 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 a compressor turbine blade(s) for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2002 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Aubrey, Arkansas · Old Gibson · 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
- N4025Y · registry record · serial T34-049DC
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial takeoff climb from a private airstrip, the pilot heard a "loud bang" and the engine lost total power. The pilot executed a forced landing, during which both main landing gear assemblies separated from the airplane and the right wing's spar was damaged. Examination of the engine revealed that the engine compressor turbine blades were fractured at varying heights. Material analysis determined that the blades fractured as a result of overload, and that the blades material conformity was in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. The compressor's surrounding components, and all downstream components, exhibited damage from the separated compressor turbine blades. The engine had accumulated a total of 14,598 hours since new and had never received a complete overhaul. Pratt & Whitney recommended overhaul interval for this engine is 3,500 hours. The reason for the separation of compressor turbine blades was not determined.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 9,745 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,779.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 9, 2002; 52.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Aubrey AR at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MEM, 47 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.