Ayres S2R-R3S accident near Lepanto, Arkansas, October 3, 1984
On October 3, 1984 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-R3S, registered N4014D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lepanto, Arkansas. 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
- October 3, 1984 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Lepanto, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-R3S
- Registration
- N4014D · registry record · serial R35-005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PILOT SET CLIMB POWER THE ACFT BEGAN TO SETTLE. FULL POWER WAS APPLIED BUT THE DESCENT CONTINUED. THE PILOT DUMPED THE CHEMICAL LOAD AND LANDED IN A RICE FIELD. DURING RECOVERY OF THE WRECKAGE THE FLEXIBLE INDUCTION AIR DUCT PARTIALLY COLLAPSED RESTRICTING AIR FLOW TO THE CARBURETOR. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT 2 OF THE 4 PROPELLER BLADE PITCH CHANGE LINKS FAILED IN FLT CAUSING THE 2 BLADES TO FEATHER RESULTING IN THE POWER LOSS. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE PITCH LINKS BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE FAILURE WAS IMPACT RELATED.
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: 8,000 hours in all; 150 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,740 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1984; 204 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pezetel PZL 35 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lepanto AR at 8:38 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.