Ayres S-2R accident near Eagle Lake, Texas, June 11, 2004
On June 11, 2004 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Ayres S-2R, registered N3104S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eagle Lake, Texas (Eagle Lake 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 partial collapse of the left main landing gear as a result of a failure of the fuselage structure due to corrosion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2004 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eagle Lake, Texas · Eagle Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S-2R
- Registration
- N3104S · no longer on the register · serial R1340-025
- 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 takeoff roll on runway 17 (a 3,801 feet long and 60 feet wide asphalt runway), the airplane "pulled" to the left and veered off the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left main landing gear partially collapsed. The fuselage tubular structure failed near a previous weld repair that was not documented in the maintenance records. The fracture surfaces displayed evidence of corrosion.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2004
- 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 TPE331-6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELA Eagle Lake TX at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,801 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from SGR
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 N3104S 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.