Aero Commander S2R accident near Almyra, Arkansas, May 10, 1986
On May 10, 1986 at about 1:00 am local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N5509X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Almyra, Arkansas (Alyra Municipal airport). 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
- May 10, 1986 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Almyra, Arkansas · Alyra Municipal · 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
- N5509X · no longer on the register · serial 1709R
- 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 PLT STATED THAT THE LANDING WAS ROUTINE UNTIL HE USED THE BRAKES. AT THIS POINT THE LEFT WHEEL BRAKE ASSEMBLY CAME APART AND THE ACFT VEERED OUT OF CONTROL OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY AND INTO A DITCH, WHERE THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY REVEALED A WORN OUT BRAKE PISTON. ACCORDING TO AN A&P/IA, THIS PISTON DESIGN ASSEMBLY IS PRONE TO PREMATURE WEAR.
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: 9,600 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 9,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,553 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1987; 249 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.