Aero Commander S2R accident near Gillett, Arkansas, March 23, 1995
On March 23, 1995 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N5561X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gillett, 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 ENGINE MAIN ROD BEARING SEIZED TO THE CRANKSHAFT DUE TO WORN MASTER ROD METAL PIECES BLOCKING THE OIL PASSAGES. A FACTOR WAS AN ENGINE OVERHAUL WAS NOT PERFORMED BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 23, 1995 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gillett, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5561X · no longer on the register · serial 1761R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION PASS THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 40 PSI AND THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE AIRPLANE SLID INTO TREES DURING THE FORCED LANDING. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE OIL PASSAGES WERE BLOCKED BY PIECES OF METAL WORN FROM THE MAIN ROD BEARING WHICH WAS SEIZED TO THE CRANKSHAFT. GEAR SPLINES WERE SEPARATED FROM THE CAM GEAR AND CAM GEAR DRIVE. THE CONDITION WAS DESCRIBED AS 'TYPICAL OF A HIGH TIME BEARING FAILURE.' THE ENGINE HAD 1,549 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL. TBO WAS 1,200 HOURS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1995; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.