Rockwell S-2R accident near Lambert, Mississippi, July 11, 1995
On July 11, 1995 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N8440V, was destroyed in an accident near Lambert, Mississippi. 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
UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF THE NO. 4 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE ROCKER ARM BOSSES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1995 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lambert, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N8440V · no longer on the register · serial 2200R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER AND HE OBSERVED SMOKE FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. HE INITIATED DUMPING OF THE CHEMICAL AND WHILE MANEUVERING TO AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS, THE AIRPLANE STALLED, IMPACTED THE GROUND THEN NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NO. 4 CYLINDER INTAKE VALVE ROCKER ARM BOSSES FAILED. THE ENGINE HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 305 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE TOTAL TIME OF THE CYLINDER WAS NOT DETERMINED.
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: 7,445 hours in all; 5,153 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1995; 218 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from MEM, 52 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.