Rockwell S-2R accident near Hickory Ridge, Arkansas, June 7, 1986
On June 7, 1986 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4921X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hickory Ridge, 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
- June 7, 1986 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hickory Ridge, Arkansas · 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
- N4921X · no longer on the register · serial 2117R
- 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 TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UP TO THE INITIAL CLIMB WHEN, AT THIS POINT OIL BEGAN STREAKING FROM THE ENGINE AND IT LOST POWER. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO DUMP THE FERTILIZER AND LOOK FOR A PLACE TO LAND BUT, DUE TO THE MARGINAL VFR WEATHER, HE RAN OUT OF ALTITUDE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN UNSTABILIZED ATTITUDE. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A FAILURE OF THE #2 PISTON ROD LED TO A CATASTROPHIC INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 1,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1986; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hickory Ridge AR at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded at 500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from JRB, 32 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.
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.