Rockwell S-2R accident near Palestine, Arkansas, August 26, 1984
On August 26, 1984, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4966X, was destroyed in an accident near Palestine, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1984
- Place
- Palestine, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N4966X · no longer on the register · serial 5011R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER AN AERIAL SPRAY OPERATION, THE PLT TOOK A PASSENGER ABOARD THE SINGLE PLACE ACFT FOR A 'RIDE AROUND THE FIELD.' WITNESSES SAID THE PAX SAT TO THE RGT OF THE PLT IN THE COCKPIT. AFTER TAKEOFF TO THE EAST, THE PLT RETURNED FOR A LOW PASS DOWN THE RWY IN THE DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF. AT THE END OF THE RWY, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO PULL UP TO AN ALT OF ABOUT 800 FT, THEN TURN & ROLL OVER INTO AN INVERTED ATTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT FELL TO THE GROUND & IMPACTED IN A NOSE LOW, WINGS LEVEL, INVERTED ATTITUDE. NO MECHANICAL REASONS FOR THE ACCIDENT WERE FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF ONLY 32 MG% (0.032%). NO ALCOHOL WAS DETECTED IN A URINE SAMPLE.
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: 3,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 1983; 723 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-21 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Palestine AR at 11:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:00 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.