Snow 600-S2C accident near Surprise, Arizona, September 22, 1993
On September 22, 1993 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Snow 600-S2C, registered N1677S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Surprise, Arizona. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING RESULTING IN HIS AIRPLANE'S ENCOUNTER WITH WAKE TURBULENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 1993 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Surprise, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Snow 600-S2C · all 600-S2Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1677S · no longer on the register · serial 600-1249C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO AIRPLANES WERE SPRAYING THE SAME FIELD. THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED THE FIRST AIRPLANE'S WAKE TURBULENCE DURING THE TURN-AROUND MANEUVER WHEN IT WAS 65 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO ARREST THE LOSS OF CONTROL BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND.
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: 336 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 227 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,009 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1993; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Litchfield Park AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°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.