Ayres S-2R accident near Swanton, Maryland, May 19, 2002
On May 19, 2002 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Ayres S-2R, registered N88MQ, was destroyed in an accident near Swanton, Maryland (None airport). 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 failure to maintain visual separation from a set of known, yet unmarked power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2002 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Swanton, Maryland · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S-2R
- Registration
- N88MQ · no longer on the register · serial G10-162
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was aware that there were power lines located in an area where he was spraying for gypsy moths. A park ranger saw the airplane make several passes up and down a river. As the airplane began it's third pass, it was headed toward the power lines and a ridge line. The airplane was in a descent, the wings were level, the airplane was spraying, and the engine sounded strong. The ranger lost sight of the airplane behind the ridge line, but 3-5 seconds later he saw smoke. Examination of the unmarked power lines revealed contact marks at the point where the wires crossed over the river. A 3-foot section of the left wing was found in the river downstream of the power lines. Examination of the wing section revealed spiraled striations at the leading edge of the wing and left aileron.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,400 hours in all; 3,400 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 15, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 485 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2001; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allied Signal TPE-331-10 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CBE Cumberland MD at 4:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 4:36 pm from MGW, 15 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.