Thrush Aircraft INC S2R accident near Lazbuddie, Texas, June 23, 2016
On June 23, 2016 at about 11:40 am local time, a 2009 Thrush Aircraft INC S2R, registered N127PB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Lazbuddie, Texas. 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 pilot's failure to avoid the metering loop pole during an aerial application.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2016 · about 11:40 am local time
- Place
- Lazbuddie, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thrush Aircraft INC S2R T65, built 2009 · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N127PB · registry record · serial T65-022DC
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that on his first spray pass of a cornfield during an aerial application, he misjudged the distance of the airplane to a metering loop pole. The right wing of the airplane impacted the metering loop pole, which resulted in damage to the right wing. The pilot further reported that he decided to land to evaluate the damage and that the subsequent landing was uneventful. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 15,728 hours in all; 1,735 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 15,615 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 27, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,509 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT-6-60AG (turboprop); 3,509 hours total
- Operator: Wilbur Ellis CO.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from KHRX, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 31, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.