Rockwell S-2R accident near Salem, Iowa, April 17, 1986
On April 17, 1986 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4949X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Salem, Iowa. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1986 · about 3:30 pm local time · cases in 1986
- Place
- Salem, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N4949X · registry record · serial 501OR
- 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 PILOT STATES THAT THE ENGINE QUIT WITHOUT WARNING AS HE WAS SPRAYING A WHEATFIELD. PILOT FURTHER STATES THAT HE HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO PICK A SUITABLE LANDING AREA. HE LANDED IN HILLY TERRAIN AND SLID SIDEWAYS INTO A CREST, TEARING OUT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR AND BENDING THE RIGHT WING.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,160 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 18,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,003 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MPZ Mt. Pleasant IA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: Salem IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from BRL, 24 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.
Other NTSB records under N4949X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4949X on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Rockwell 14 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W R-1340 1,229 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Mount Pleasant Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Iowa 871 since 1982 · 131 in the last ten years
- Iowa 4,513 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N4949X 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MKC86LA091.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.