Ayres S2R accident near Dumas, Arkansas, September 25, 1991
On September 25, 1991 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Ayres S2R, registered N3682X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dumas, Arkansas (Billy Free 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 FAILURE OF A WORN RUDDER ADJUSTMENT BAR. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1991 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Dumas, Arkansas · Billy Free
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R
- Registration
- N3682X · no longer on the register · serial 2152R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING A DAYLIGHT TAKEOFF, THE PILOT LOST RUDDER CONTROL DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A WORN RUDDER ADJUSTMENT BAR. THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THE RUNWAY AND ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED RIGHT OFF THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE AIRPLANE LEFT THE RUNWAY, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR SHEARED.
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: 6,602 hours in all; 4,421 in this make and model; 500 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 6,515 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 25, 1991; 450 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Star City AR at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from PBF, 60 miles away
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 N3682X 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.