Ayres SR2-T34 accident near Harrisburg, Arkansas, May 31, 1993
On May 31, 1993 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Ayres SR2-T34, registered N6051F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harrisburg, 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 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE REDUCTION GEAR ASSEMBLY DUE TO FATIGUE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1993 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Harrisburg, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres SR2-T34
- Registration
- N6051F · registry record · serial T34-193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE WITH A FULL LOAD OF PESTICIDES WAS EN ROUTE TO A FIELD TO BE SPRAYED WHEN THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED AND THE ENGINE CHIP DETECTOR ILLUMINATED. WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO A CULTIVATED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A LEVEE RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE FIREWALL. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE POWER LOSS WAS THE RESULT OF FIRST STAGE PLANETARY SUNGEAR FAILURE DUE TO FATIGUE.
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: 8,731 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 500 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 8,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft; not recorded at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:48 pm from JBR, 19 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.