Rockwell Intl. S-2R accident near Firebaugh, California, June 16, 1982
On June 16, 1982 at about 3:02 pm local time, a Rockwell Intl. S-2R, registered N4218X, was destroyed in an accident near Firebaugh, 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 1982 · about 3:02 pm local time
- Place
- Firebaugh, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell Intl. S-2R
- Registration
- N4218X · no longer on the register · serial 1977R
- 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 SPREADING FERTILIZER OVER A FIELD AND MANEUVERING OVER "HIGH TENSION LINES." NO PROBLEMS WERE ENCOUNTERED DURING PREVIOUS FLIGHTS EARLIER THAT DAY. THE PILOT HAD PICKED UP ANOTHER LOAD WHICH HE REPORTED WAS PROBABLY TOO MUCH. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER ENTERING THE FIELD, HE STARTED TO GO OVER THE LINES, BUT THE AIRCRAFT JUST WAS NOT CLIMBING WELL. PRIOR TO CONTACT WITH THE WIRE HE ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE LOAD. HE BELIEVED THAT THE TAILWHEEL CAUGHT ONE OF THE WIRES AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND FELL BEYOND THE WIRES.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 2,800 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 3,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,255 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tri Air INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Firebaugh CA at 8:00 am
- Destination: Firebaugh CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.