Ayres S-2R accident near Reno, Nevada, March 16, 1994
On March 16, 1994 at about 10:08 pm local time, a Ayres S-2R, registered N40237, was destroyed in an accident near Reno, Nevada. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN UNDETERMINED PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OIL SYSTEM, A DECISION TO FLY THE AIRPLANE WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY, AND PROGRESSIVE (PARTIAL) FAILURE OF THE ENGINE MASTER ROD AND BEARING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 1994 · about 10:08 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S-2R
- Registration
- N40237 · no longer on the register · serial R1820-008DC
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT, THE PILOT MADE AN UNSCHEDULED STOP AT TRUCKEE DUE TO HIGH OIL TEMPERATURE & LOW OIL PRESSURE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE OWNER/OPERATOR, THE PILOT ARRANGED FOR A MECHANIC TO CHECK THE MAGNETIC DRAIN PLUG & ENGINE OIL SCREEN. THE MAGNETIC DRAIN PLUG WAS FREE OF PARTICLE DEBRIS & THE SCREEN HAD A FEW PARTICLES (NOT OUT OF ORDINARY). A DECISION WAS MADE TO FERRY THE PLANE TO RENO/STEAD, WHERE EXPERIENCED MAINTENANCE FOR WRIGHT ENGINES WAS AVAILABLE. DURING FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE & INDICATED HE WOULD LAND ON A ROAD. ONE WITNESS SAID HE SAW A PUFF OF WHITE SMOKE FOLLOWED BY BLACK SMOKE. WHILE LANDING, THE PLANE HIT ELECTRICAL LINES ALONG THE ROADWAY, THEN IT STRUCK A LIGHT POST, THE GROUND & A VAN. AN EXAM REVEALED METAL CHIPS ON THE OIL DRAIN PLUG & IN THE OIL SCREEN. TEAR- DOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A WORN MASTER ROD JOURNAL WITH HEAT DISCOLORATION. TOXICOLOGY TESTS SHOWED 0.003 UG.ML OF TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID (MARIJUANA) IN THE PILOT'S BLOOD & 0.072 UG/ML IN HIS URINE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,460 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1994; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TRK Truckee CA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: 4SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:28 pm from RNO, 5 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.