Aero Commander S2R accident near Dexter, Missouri, June 11, 1984
On June 11, 1984 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N8986Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dexter, Missouri. 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 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
- June 11, 1984 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dexter, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N8986Q · registry record · serial 1656R
- 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 AG STRIP HAD RECENTLY BEEN GRADED TO INCREASE ITS WIDTH FROM 20 FT TO 50 FT. SOME CLUMPS OF DIRT AND SOD HAD BEEN LEFT ON THE STRIP. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT DURING TAKEOFF ROLL AND HIT SOME OF THE DIRT CLODS. THE PLTSAID HE OVERCORRECTED TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR HIT A DITCH. THE ACFT NOSED DOWN AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER STOPPING.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,025 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days; 5,813 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,412 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 1984; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R 1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:30 am
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.