Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Five Points, California, July 16, 1992
On July 16, 1992 at about 6:45 am local time, a Ayres S2R-T34, registered N3105V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Five Points, California (Price Giffen airport). 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 FAILURE OF AIRPORT PERSONNEL TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY RUNWAY MAINTENANCE. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE 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
- July 16, 1992 · about 6:45 am local time
- Place
- Five Points, California · Price Giffen · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Registration
- N3105V · registry record · serial T34-13706
- 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 ON A PRIVATELY OWNED 2700 FT LONG BY 25 FT WIDE AIRSTRIP. DURING THE LANDING FLARE THE RIGHT WING BOOM BECAME ENTANGLED WITH THE HIGH VEGETATION THAT AIRPORT PERSONNEL FAILED TO MAINTAIN. HIGH VEGETATION AND A DIRT BANK PARALLELS THE RUNWAY'S EDGE. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER TO GO-AROUND, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING STRUCK THE DIRT BANK AND SPUN THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE'S WING SPAN IS 44 FT, 5 INCHES.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,520 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 13,330 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,803 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 1992; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-321A9 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: American West Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,700 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 315° at 6 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.