Rockwell S-2R accident near Isola, Mississippi, July 28, 1999
On July 28, 1999 at about 11:50 am local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N8482V, was destroyed in an accident near Isola, Mississippi. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the No. 4 cylinder due to a leaking intake valve resulting in loss of engine power and collision with a ditch while making a forced landing on unsuitable terrain. Contributing to the accident was improper maintenance adjustment of the engine valves and spark plugs.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1999 · about 11:50 am local time
- Place
- Isola, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N8482V · no longer on the register · serial 2242R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While performing aerial application the pilot stated the engine backfired twice, lost oil pressure, backfired again, and then shutdown. While making a forced landing, the aircraft collided with a ditch and a post crash fired erupted. Postcrash examination of the engine under FAA supervision showed the No. 4 cylinder had compression of 35 over 80 psi and was leaking through the intake valve. Also, 7 of 18 valves were not adjusted within manufacturer's limits and all spark plug gaps were above manufacturer's limits.
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: 12,888 hours in all; 11,476 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 12,788 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,579 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 1999; 144 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Belzoni MS at 11:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from GLH, 16 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.