Ayres S-2R-T34 accident near Tulare, California, July 29, 1993
On July 29, 1993 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Ayres S-2R-T34, registered N4016B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tulare, California (Medfford Field). 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 the main gear inner lower tube assembly due to fatigue.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1993 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Tulare, California · Medfford Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S-2R-T34
- Registration
- N4016B · registry record · serial 6043
- 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 HAD COMPLETED FOUR AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHTS. WHILE TAXIING OUT FOR THE FIFTH FLIGHT, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. EXAMINATION OF THE MAIN GEAR STRUT REVEALED THAT THE INNER LOWER TUBE ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AT A BOLT HOLE DUE TO FATIGUE.
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: 7,248 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 167 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 4,575 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-34-AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from FAT, 42 miles away
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.