North American Rockwell Corp. S2-R accident near Mercedes, Texas, June 2, 1986
On June 2, 1986 at about 5:20 pm local time, a North American Rockwell Corp. S2-R, registered N34956, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mercedes, Texas (Mercedes, Texas 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
- June 2, 1986 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Mercedes, Texas · Mercedes, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American Rockwell Corp. S2-R
- Registration
- N34956 · no longer on the register · serial 2003R
- 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 EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENG POWER AT AN ALT OF 200 FT AGL SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PLT WAS FORCED TO LAND AGAINST THE ROWS IN A MUDDY COTTON FIELD. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT FLIPPED OVER. THE EXACT NATURE OF THE ENG FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION.
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: 3,800 hours in all; 2,700 in this make and model; 3,725 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 265 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-ANI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°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.