Ayres S2R-T-34 accident near Tonopah, Arizona, May 8, 1997
On May 8, 1997 at about 3:25 am local time, a Ayres S2R-T-34, registered N4011G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tonopah, Arizona. 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 power turbine due to an overtemperature condition created by an improperly adjusted fuel control. A factor in the accident was the tripped circuit breaker which prevented the wing lights from operating during the forced night landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1997 · about 3:25 am local time
- Place
- Tonopah, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T-34
- Registration
- N4011G · registry record · serial 6020
- 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 was en route back to his landing strip after night spraying when the aircraft lost engine power. He also saw flames and debris coming from the exhaust stacks. The circuit breaker popped when he attempted to turn on the wing lights so he continued the approach without lights. During rollout, the aircraft struck an unseen irrigation ditch and the gear collapsed. An inspection showed evidence of heat and blade damage to the power turbine. The fuel control adjustment was found in the full rich position. There was no evidence of FOD to the compressor rotor and stator assemblies. The engine had a hot section inspection as a result of a previous sudden engine stoppage incident.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,380 hours in all; 10,699 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,245 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-A-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Buckeye AZ at 2:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 am from PHX, 56 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.