Rockwell S-2R accident near Dos Palos, California, October 15, 1986
On October 15, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N8450V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dos Palos, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- October 15, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dos Palos, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N8450V · no longer on the register · serial 2210R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTING THE FIELD ON HIS LAST SPRAY APPLICATION, THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH AN ANTENNA GUY WIRE LOCATED ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRSTRIP APRX FIVE MILES AWAY. HOWEVER, AS HE ENTERED INTO A RIGHT BANK ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE AIRSTRIP THE AIRCRAFT WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A PLOWED FIELD. NO GUY WIRE NOR ANY EVIDENCE OF IT WAS FOUND IN OR AROUND THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,975 hours in all; 9,500 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 16,765 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,700 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 2, 1986; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.