Ayres S2R-R1340 accident near Humphrey, Arkansas, June 18, 1998
On June 18, 1998 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-R1340, registered N4020G, was destroyed in an accident near Humphrey, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's visual lookout was inadequate for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1998 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Humphrey, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-R1340
- Registration
- N4020G · registry record · serial R1340-003DC
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The agricultural aircraft impacted trees while applying fertilizer to a rice field. A person about a mile from the field where the pilot was working, heard the airplane as it worked the field. About 3 or 4 minutes after he heard the airplane's engine 'quit,' and he saw smoke. Continuity was established to all flight control surfaces, and both propeller blades exhibited signatures of engine power. The pilot had reported not feeling good and planned to go home after the next flight. Although the autopsy of the pilot noted severe coronary disease, there were no areas of complete blockage of the coronary arteries, and there was no evidence of an old or recent myocardial infarction (heart attack) identified. The pilot was being treated for high blood pressure with two medicines: Sural (nisoldipine) and Levatol (penbutolol). Nisoldipine and Penbutolol are prescription medications prescribed for patients with high blood pressure. Possible side effects include low blood pressure and slowed heart rate. Also, it was possible that the pilot's medications in combination with his existing cardiac disease could have significantly reduced his tolerance to repeated G-exposure.
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: 12,996 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 30, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from PBF, 17 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.
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.