Ayres S2R-T65 accident near Firebaugh, California, February 8, 1997
On February 8, 1997 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-T65, registered N3101K, 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
failure of the pilot to compensate for crosswind conditions and to maintain proper runway alignment. Factors relating to the accident were: the crosswind, narrow runway condition, and the soft terrain and ditch beside the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 8, 1997 · about 6:00 pm 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
- Ayres S2R-T65
- Registration
- N3101K · registry record · serial R1340-030
- 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 encountered a crosswind during the takeoff ground roll on a narrow airstrip. The airplane's left wheel drifted off the surface of the airstrip onto the soft shoulder, and the pilot lost control. The airplane then nosed down into a ditch and nosed over.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,824 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 5,621 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,263 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1996; 592 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tri Air INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:14 pm from MCE, 26 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.