Aero Commander S2R accident near Newport, Arkansas, July 6, 1995
On July 6, 1995 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N5654X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newport, 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
A DISCONNECTED THROTTLE PUSH PULL ROD, DUE TO INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT 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
- July 6, 1995 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Newport, 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
- N5654X · no longer on the register · serial 1854R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MANEUVERING DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT 'SHUDDERED SLIGHTLY' AND THE MANIFOLD PRESSURE BEGAN DROPPING. HE TRIED TO INCREASED ENGINE POWER WITH 'PROP PITCH TO FULL FORWARD,' BUT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A RICE LEVEE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL PUSH PULL TUBE HAD DISENGAGED. THE BOLT, WASHER, AND COTTER PIN (USED TO SECURE THE THROTTLE CONTROL PUSH PULL TUBE) COULD NOT BE LOCATED.
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: 12,850 hours in all; 7,200 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1995; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE AR at 7:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.