Rockwell S-2R accident near Lookeba, Oklahoma, September 6, 1999
On September 6, 1999 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4919X, was destroyed in an accident near Lookeba, Oklahoma (Sickles 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
The loss of engine power resulting from a cylinder that failed for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 1999 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lookeba, Oklahoma · Sickles · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N4919X · no longer on the register · serial 2113R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane's engine lost power during the takeoff roll. According to the pilot, during the 'run-up before takeoff the engine spit, backfired, and then cleared up.' He initiated the takeoff roll and 'everything was fine for a few seconds,' and then 'about half way down the runway the engine coughed, spit, and backfired again.' Smoke was coming from the engine compartment and entering the cockpit, and subsequently, he aborted the takeoff. The airplane overran the runway and came to rest in a ditch. The pilot/operator removed and examined the engine oil sump from the Pratt and Whitney R-1340-AN1 engine. He observed 'numerous pieces and shavings' of ferrous metal. He stated that the pieces resembled cylinder parts. No further examination of the engine was conducted.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 20,580 as pilot in command; 400 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,759 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 1999; 150 hours since
- 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 36, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1.5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from OKC, 40 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.