Snow S2C accident near Hondo, Texas, May 12, 1997
On May 12, 1997 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Snow S2C, registered N1619S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hondo, Texas (Hondo Municipal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1997 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hondo, Texas · Hondo Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Snow S2C · all S2Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1619S · registry record · serial 1167C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the operator, the pilot lost directional control of the airplane after executing a wheel landing on the centerline of runway 17L. The airplane was observed exiting the right side of the runway, and remained in a right turn after exiting the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed within 30 feet after exiting the runway and the left wing and propeller struck the ground. The airplane came to rest on its left wing. The winds at the time of the accident were reported from the southeast at 3 knots. No pre-existing defects or anomalies were found on the landing gear or brake system of the airplane by the FAA inspector and the operator. Numerous attempts, albeit unsuccessful, were made by the investigator-in-charge to speak to the pilot and conduct a formal interview.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,636 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 18,636 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,201 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1997; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,460 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HDO TX at 12:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17L, 6,020 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N1619S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW97LA186.