Rockwell S2R accident near Corcoran, California, June 18, 1983
On June 18, 1983 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Rockwell S2R, registered N8435V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corcoran, California (Salyer Farms Strip 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 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 18, 1983 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Corcoran, California · Salyer Farms Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S2R
- Registration
- N8435V · no longer on the register · serial 2195R
- 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 DURING HIS LAST SPRAYING RUN HE LOST LEFT RUDDER PEDAL CONTROL. HE MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE ACFT IN THE AIR BUT DURING LANDING HE LOST CONTROL DUE TO THE LOSS OF THE LEFT RUDDER/BRAKE PEDAL. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL ADJUSTMENT CHANNEL, P/N 70080-1, HAD BROKEN ALLOWING THE RUDDER PEDAL TO FALL OFF LEAVING THE LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKE CONTROL INOPERABLE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,468 hours in all; 4,200 in this make and model; 221 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 23,160 as pilot in command; 2,676 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,846 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1983; 177 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 7,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.