Ayres S2R accident near Visalia, California, July 27, 1991
On July 27, 1991 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Ayres S2R, registered N3087D, was destroyed in an accident near Visalia, 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
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE MASTER ROD TO THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER RESULTING FROM A LACK OF OIL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1991 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Visalia, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R
- Registration
- N3087D · registry record · serial R182Q
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN DURING A SPRAYING OPERATION. AN EXTERNAL EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE MASTER ROD TO THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER HAD FAILED. ALSO NOTED WAS A LACK OF OIL IN THE ENGINE OIL SUMP. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED.
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: 8,500 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 60 in the last 30 days; 8,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,760 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 26, 1991; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R1820-97 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Gilbert Aviation Industries
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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 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.