Rockwell S-2R accident near Swifton, Arkansas, August 15, 1988
On August 15, 1988 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N8856Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Swifton, Arkansas (K.C. Harlin 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
- August 15, 1988 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Swifton, Arkansas · K.C. Harlin · 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
- N8856Q · no longer on the register · serial 2342R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE PILOT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH A POSITIVE CLIMB. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 1 MILE, HE ELECTED TO DUMP HIS DRY FERTILIZER LOAD. WHEN HE DUMPED THE LOAD, THE INCREASED AERODYNAMIC DRAG CAUSED BY THE AIR BLOCK ON THE LARGE SPREADER, PLUS THE HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND DENSITY ALTITUDE AND COMPARATIVELY LOW AIRSPEED, CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL/MUSH INTO THE TERRAIN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 1988; 350 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Swifton AR at 8:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:57 pm from LIT, 80 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 N8856Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.