Ayres S2R-1820 accident near Ville Platte, Louisiana, June 14, 1983
On June 14, 1983 at about 12:10 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-1820, registered N4025P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ville Platte, Louisiana. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1983 · about 12:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ville Platte, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-1820
- Registration
- N4025P · registry record · serial R1820-018DC
- 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 ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DIRT LEVEE DURING TAKEOFF AFTER AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION. ACCORDING TO THE PLT HE EXPERIENCED A POWER FAILURE AT LIFTOFF. HE DUMPED HIS SPRAY LOAD AND APPLIED BRAKES. THE ENGINE REGAINED PARTIAL POWER AND FAILED AGAIN. AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND 300 FT OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY THE ACFT HIT A 2 FT HIGH LEVEL. POST ACCIDENT ENGINE DISASSMBLY REVEALED NO DIFFICULTIES TO CAUSE A POWER LOSS OR ENGINE FAILURE. LATER INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER IN THE IDLE SECTION. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE IF SUFFICIENT WATER WAS INGESTED TO CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE OR TO SIMPLY RESULT IN A LEANER THAN NORMAL FUEL MIXTURE.
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: 7,500 hours in all; 688 in this make and model; 206 in the last 90 days; 7,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 688 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R1820 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,650 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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 N4025P 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.