Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Mendota, California, May 21, 1987
On May 21, 1987 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-T34, registered N4012Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mendota, California. 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
- May 21, 1987 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mendota, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Registration
- N4012Y · no longer on the register · serial 6047
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A POLE THAT WAS LOCATED 30 FEET WITHIN THE FIELD BOUNDARY. THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO THE DAWN LIGHT AND THE WAY THE POLE BLENDED IN WITH THE FIELD ALONG WITH A LIGHT AMOUNT OF CHEMICAL ON THE WINDSHIELD, HE DID NOT SEE THE POLE TO AVOID THE COLLISION. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 7,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1987; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-34-AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mendota CA at 8:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 315° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°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.
Other NTSB records under N4012Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.