Rockwell S2R accident near Las Animas, Colorado, June 24, 1996
On June 24, 1996 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Rockwell S2R, registered N4907X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Las Animas, Colorado (Las Animas airport). 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
inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot. Factors relating to the accident were: the unfavorable wind condition for takeoff, and the terrain condition beyond the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 1996 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Las Animas, Colorado · Las Animas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S2R
- Registration
- N4907X · no longer on the register · serial 2099R
- 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 the takeoff roll on runway 26, the aircraft did not attain sufficient airspeed to achieve flight. The pilot reported that the airplane did not accelerate at a continuous rate, and there was insufficient runway remaining to abort the takeoff. He dumped the load, but the aircraft overran the end of the runway and went up an incline bank, which launched it into the air. A stall ensued and the aircraft impacted the ground in a nose down 15 degree left wing down attitude. Wind at the time was from 010 degrees at 10 miles per hour.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,399 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 2,350 as pilot in command; 50 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1996; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Care, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 7V9 at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,840 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from PUB, 75 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.
Other NTSB records under N4907X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.