Rockwell S-2R accident near Winchester, Arkansas, February 27, 1996
On February 27, 1996 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N431BL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Winchester, Arkansas. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the engine master rod. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing, due to the proximity of a power line and trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 1996 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Winchester, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N431BL · registry record · serial 2209R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the agricultural airplane's flight was to 'rinse and clean the airplane and sprayer system with water.' The pilot reported that, after he 'rinsed' the aircraft, and 'pulled' up from a crosswind swath run, 'the engine stopped, causing [the] propeller to stop.' During the ensuing forced landing, the pilot 'had to go under a power line' to land the airplane in a field. During the landing, the right wing struck a tree and partially separated from the fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed a 'broken' master rod and a hole in the #5 cylinder. Maintenance records did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected defects that would have contributed to the failure.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,663 hours in all; 3,085 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,166 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 27, 1996; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wsk PZL-35 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Tillar AR at 1:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 68°F (20°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.