Rockwell S-2R accident near Coalinga, California, September 11, 1985
On September 11, 1985 at about 2:20 am local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4853X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Duster 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
- September 11, 1985 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Duster Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N4853X · registry record · serial 2039R
- 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 STATED THAT HE TURNED ONTO THE FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING ON RWY 36 AS THE SUN SET ON HIS UNLIGHTED AG STRIP. HE SAID THAT HE LOST SIGHT OF THE STRIP DURING THE LANDING FLARE, AND DRIFTD OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO HIGH VEGETATION. THE DRAG OF THE VEGETATION NOSED THE ACFT OVER ON ITS BACK.
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: 12,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1985; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Coalinga CA at 1:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.