Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Friona, Texas, April 8, 2004
On April 8, 2004 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-T34, registered N2320T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Friona, Texas (Benger Airpark 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll. Contributing factors were prevailing crosswind, rain, and the restricted vision from water on the windscreen, and a vehicle parked near the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2004 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Friona, Texas · Benger Airpark · 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
- N2320T · registry record · serial T34-260
- 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 15,798-hour pilot reported during the landing roll on runway 22, he moved the propeller condition lever to the BETA position, and subsequently "lost visibility." The "wind pushed the airplane off the left side of the runway." As the pilot attempted to go around, the left wing struck a tractor located approximately 40 feet left of the runway. The pilot reported wind from the northwest at 17 knots, with moderate rain at the time of the accident.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,798 hours in all; 2,150 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 19, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X54 Friona TX at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,013 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N2320T 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.