Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Parkin, Arkansas, May 15, 1991
On May 15, 1991 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-T34, registered N4010P, was destroyed in an accident near Parkin, Arkansas. 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBJECTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1991 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Parkin, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Registration
- N4010P · no longer on the register · serial 6025
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS CONDUCTING AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING IN OPEN FIELDS SURROUNDED BY APPROXIMATELY 100 FOOT HIGH TREES. THE OUTBOARD PORTION ON THE LEFT WING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE 1,136 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE LEFT AILERON WAS FOUND 1,005 FEET FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT NO WING DEFECTS WERE PRESENT. THE WING AND AILERON SEPARATION WERE DUE TO THE AIRPLANE STRIKING A VERTICAL OBJECT SUCH AS A TREE. THAT OBJECT WAS NOT FOUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,470 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-41 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.