Rockwell S-2R accident near Olton, Texas, August 6, 1985
On August 6, 1985 at about 3:10 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N5025X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Olton, Texas (Hill AG Strip 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 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
- August 6, 1985 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Olton, Texas · Hill AG Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N5025X · registry record · serial 5057R
- 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 PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE DIRT LANDING STRIP THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY TURNED RIGHT AND NO AMOUNT OF CORRECTIVE ACTION HELPED. HE FURTHER STATED THE MECHANIC HAD TO REMOVE THE BRAKE PADS TO GET THE TIRE TO ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT'S OWNER STATED EXAMINATION REVEALED THE RIGHT WHEEL HAD MORE RESISTANCE TO ROTATION THAN DID THE OTHER WHEEL BUT THAT IT COULD STILL BE ROTATED BY HAND. HE STATED HE SUSPECTED THE PIOT GOT THE WHEEL IN THE SAND AND JUST GROUND LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT. HE FURTHER STATED THE RESISTANCE TO ROTATION OF THE WHEEL WAS POSSIBLY DUE TO SAND AND GRIT IN THE WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY.
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: 2,142 hours in all; 598 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,223 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright C7BA SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Olton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:10 am
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.