Ayres S2R accident near Traver, California, October 12, 1988
On October 12, 1988 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Ayres S2R, registered N3087D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Traver, California. 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 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 12, 1988 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Traver, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R
- Registration
- N3087D · registry record · serial R1820-027DC
- 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 SPRAYING A COTTON FIELD THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN AREA BUT ROLLOUT CONTINUED INTO CROPS. THE ACFT NOSED OVER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED ONLY UNUSEABLE FUEL ON BOARD.
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: 8,490 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 8,411 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1988; 370 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,653 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q31 Sequoia CA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.
Other NTSB records under N3087D 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.