Ayres Corporation S2R accident near Weipee, Idaho, April 18, 2018
On April 18, 2018 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1979 Ayres Corporation S2R, registered N40170, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Weipee, Idaho (Private Airstrip 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2018 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Weipee, Idaho · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S2R T15, built 1979 · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N40170 · registry record · serial T15-005
- 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane initiated a takeoff roll to perform an agricultural application flight. During the takeoff roll on the gravel airstrip, the airplane exited the right side of the runway and collided with a drainage culvert. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar. The FAA inspector did not travel to the accident site.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Moro Aircraft Leasing INC
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Weipee ID at 11:00 pm
- Destination: PVT Weipee ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from KP69, 4 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 September 17, 2018. 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 | Memorandum for Record – FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | 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.