Rockwell International S-2R accident near Lemoore, California, October 13, 2003
On October 13, 2003 at about 3:22 pm local time, a Rockwell International S-2R, registered N7950V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lemoore, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2003 · about 3:22 pm local time
- Place
- Lemoore, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell International S-2R · all S-2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N7950V · no longer on the register · serial 2326R
- 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 airplane collided with the ground during an aerial application and came to rest inverted. During crop dusting operations, the pilot was flying along the north edge of a field, spraying from west to east. About midfield, the airplane entered a steep bank to the right, and the right wing tip impacted the ground. The pilot stated that he was flying and looked toward the right wing "for some reason." Shortly thereafter, the right wing tip impacted the ground. No engine problems were reported. Control continuity could not be established due to impact damage sustained in the accident sequence. The pilot said he could offer no explanation as to why the aircraft banked to the right.
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; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,300 hours in all; 11,121 in this make and model; 522 in the last 90 days; 101 in the last 30 days; 27,245 as pilot in command; 9,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,728 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 2003; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-5-252 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Kings County CA at 3:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KHJO, 12 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.