Rockwell S-2R accident near Mediapolis, Iowa, August 15, 1987
On August 15, 1987 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4949X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mediapolis, 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
- August 15, 1987 · about 4:15 pm local time · cases in 1987
- Place
- Mediapolis, 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 5010R
- 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 STATED THAT THE FIELD TO BE SPRAYED APPEARED SAFE ENOUGH WHEN HE FLEW A RECON FLIGHT OVER THE AREA THE DAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE STATED THAT HE DIDN'T EXPECT THE POWER TRANSMISSION LINES TO BE SO LOW, AND THAT HE DID NOT SEE A RISE IN THE CULTIVATED TERRAIN JUST UNDER THE POWERLINES. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, AS THE PILOT FLEW UNDER THE LINES AND OVER THE HUMP IN THE CORNFIELD, THE RIGHT SPRAY BOOM SNAGGED THE CORN, PULLING THE RIGHT WING DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SWERVED 180 DEGREES AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN BEFORE COMING TO REST.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 2,183 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 14,800 as pilot in command; 15 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,181 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1987; 54 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MPZ Mediapolis IA at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 185° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.
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-AN1 64 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/MKC87LA164.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.