Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Wheatley, Arkansas, May 2, 1991
On May 2, 1991 at about 11:35 am local time, a Ayres S2R-T34, registered N4015Z, suffered minor damage in an accident near Wheatley, Arkansas. 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 FAILURE OF THE FLAGMAN TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1991 · about 11:35 am local time
- Place
- Wheatley, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Registration
- N4015Z · registry record · serial 6041
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AERIAL APPLICATION PASSES WERE BEING MADE NORTH TO SOUTH WITH EACH PASS BEING BENEATH CROSS COUNTRY POWER LINES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. ONE FLAGMAN WAS POSITIONED AT ONE END OF THE FIELD WITH A SECOND BENEATH THE POWER LINES. DURING THE SIXTH PASS, FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, THE FLAGMAN FAILED TO MOVE AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, 'DUE TO THE HEIGHT OF THE WIRES AND THEIR CLOSE PROXIMITY, I WAS COMMITTED TO PASS UNDER THEM.' HE UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO PASS BENEATH THE WIRES AND OVER THE FLAGMAN. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR STRUCK THE FLAGMAN AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A LEVEE BEFORE CONTROL COULD BE REGAINED. AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING FOLLOWED.
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: 2,485 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 43 in the last 30 days; 2,385 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,574 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1991; 104 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°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.