Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Wright, Arkansas, March 16, 1992
On March 16, 1992 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-T34, registered N41KM, was destroyed in an accident near Wright, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE DUE TO DIVERTED ATTENTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1992 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wright, Arkansas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Registration
- N41KM · registry record · serial T41-154DC
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DAYLIGHT FLIGHT THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE TO A GRASS STRIP WHEN HE NOTICED ANOTHER AIRPLANE DEPARTING HIS INTENDED LANDING AREA. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS WATCHING THE OTHER AIRPLANE WHEN HIS AIRPLANE DESCENDED INADVERTENTLY AND TURNED RIGHT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND WITH ITS RIGHT WING TIP AND CARTWHEELED TO ITS FINAL RESTING PLACE.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 12,050 hours in all; 850 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 12,050 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 19, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-41 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: AG Air Incorporated
The flight
- Departed from: PBF Pine Bluff AR at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from PBF, 10 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.
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.