Aero Commander S2R accident near Widener, Arkansas, July 7, 1995
On July 7, 1995 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N8972Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Widener, 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. THE PROXIMITY OF POWER LINES (OBSTRUCTION) WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1995 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Widener, 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
- N8972Q · no longer on the register · serial 1642R
- 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 AGRICULTURAL OPERATION, A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. THE PILOT WAS DISPENSING CHEMICALS AT THE TIME AND WAS MANEUVERING TO COMMENCE ANOTHER PASS. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE PILOT OBSERVED POWER LINES AHEAD, SO HE ATTEMPTED TO GAIN ALTITUDE IN AN EFFORT TO CLEAR THE OBSTRUCTION. HOWEVER, WHILE CLEARING THE POWER LINES, THE AIRPLANE LOST AIRSPEED. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND WAS DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
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: 2,500 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 2,440 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,579 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1995; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 4:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.