Ayres S2R-G6 accident near Palestine, Arkansas, May 25, 2003
On May 25, 2003 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-G6, registered N6136Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palestine, Arkansas. 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 shearing of the torsion shaft which resulted in a loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2003 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Palestine, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-G6
- Registration
- N6136Z · registry record · serial G6-138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Upon completing an aerial application of a field, the pilot was returning to a private airstrip to reload the hopper and refuel. During the return flight, the airplane "felt like it tried to nosedive." The pilot stated that he checked the power settings, extended the flaps, and initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a levee and came to rest upright. Examination of the engine revealed that torsion shaft was fractured at the shear point.
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: 1,500 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 4, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Brinkley AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from SGT, 41 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.
Other NTSB records under N6136Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.