Ayres S-2R accident near Yuma, Arizona, September 14, 1989
On September 14, 1989 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Ayres S-2R, registered N4977X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yuma, Arizona (Twelfth Street Airstrip airport). 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING ON A DRY GRAVEL RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1989 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yuma, Arizona · Twelfth Street Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S-2R
- Registration
- N4977X · no longer on the register · serial 5022R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN GEAR DUG INTO SOFT DIRT ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP INVERTED. THE DRY GRAVEL RUNWAY WAS 60 FEET WIDE AND THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,903 hours in all; 485 in this make and model; 191 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 2,233 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,386 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 7, 1989; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820-97 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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 N4977X 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.