Aero Commander S2R accident near Tranquillity, California, August 11, 1989
On August 11, 1989 at about 6:15 am local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N4072X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tranquillity, 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 PILOT'S VISUAL LOOK-OUT WAS INADEQUATE AND THAT HE FAILED TO SEE THE HIGH VEGETATION UPON LANDING. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT ARE DARK NIGHT AND HIGH VEGETATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1989 · about 6:15 am local time
- Place
- Tranquillity, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4072X · no longer on the register · serial 1915R
- 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 WAS COMPLETING A NIGHT AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT AND WAS LANDING AT A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. ON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE STRUCK SOME WEEDS CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO EXIT THE RUNWAY ENVIRONMENT MAKING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL NOT POSSIBLE. BOTH MAIN LANDING GEARS COLLAPSED WHEN THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE SOFT TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY.
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
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1989; 155 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mid-Cal AG Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Kerman CA at 5:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°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.