Rockwell S-2R accident near Bay City, Texas, May 10, 1984
On May 10, 1984, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N8481V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bay City, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. 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
- May 10, 1984
- Place
- Bay City, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N8481V · registry record · serial 2314R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE SPRAYING A FIELD WITH PROPANEL & MODOWN GRASS KILLERS, THE PLT WAS CROSSING BELOW A HIGH TENSION POWER LINE. THE VERTICAL STABILIZER CONTACTED THE LOWEST WIRE WHICH TORE LOOSE THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. THE ACFT PITCHED NOSE UP, THEN IT DOVE DOWN, CRASHED & BURNED. THE PLT WAS RESCUED FROM THE PLANE, BUT HE INHALED A LARGE AMOUNT OF HERBICIDE & DIED LATER.
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
- Flight time: 1,712 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,400 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 2, 1984; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Bay City TX at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.