Aero Commander S2R accident near Firebaugh, California, August 19, 1994
On August 19, 1994 at about 3:42 am local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N8843Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Firebaugh, California. 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 loss of engine power due to the failure of the number 2 cylinder head. A factor was the dark night conditions which inhibited the pilot's ability to visually detect ground obstructions in the landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1994 · about 3:42 am local time
- Place
- Firebaugh, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N8843Q · no longer on the register · serial 1543R
- 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 STATED HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. HE LANDED ON THE SHOULDER OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A HIGHWAY SIGNPOST. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER HEAD WAS CRACKED.
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: 12,000 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,700 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 16, 1994; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tri Air, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Q49 at 3:30 am
- Destination: Q49
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.