Rockwell S-2R accident near Yuma, Arizona, September 15, 1990
On September 15, 1990 at about 11:05 am local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4165X, was destroyed in an accident near Yuma, Arizona. 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SELECT A CRUISE ALTITUDE WHICH WOULD ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT WHICH INHIBITED THE PILOT'S ABILITY TO SEE THE OBSTRUCTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1990 · about 11:05 am local time
- Place
- Yuma, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N4165X · registry record · serial 1936R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE DEPARTED FROM THE JACKSON AG STRIP AT ABOUT 0400 HOURS AFTER LOADING CHEMICALS TO BE SPRAYED ON A FIELD ABOUT 15 MILES TO THE EAST. THE NIGHT WAS DARK WITH NO MOON VISIBLE. THE PILOT SELECTED 300 FEET AGL AS A CRUISE ALTITUDE DURING THE FLIGHT TO THE FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE THINKS HE ENCOUNTERED A STRONGER THAN EXPECTED CROSS WIND WHICH BLEW HIM ABOUT ONE MILE OFF COURSE. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN UNLIGHTED 'H' FRAME POWER LINE SUPPORT STRUCTURE AT A POWER STATION.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,976 hours in all; 1,469 in this make and model; 116 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 7,858 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 1989; 303 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Bard CA at 11:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 135° at 7 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:45 am
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.