Rockwell S-2R accident near Reyno, Arkansas, July 5, 1989
On July 5, 1989 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4931X, was destroyed in an accident near Reyno, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN A TIGHT MANEUVER AT INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND A SUBSEQUENT STALL. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PRESENCE OF HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1989 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Reyno, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N4931X · no longer on the register · serial 2135R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED ON A FINAL SWATH RUN (TO THE NORTH) ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF A RICE FIELD. AT THE END OF THE SWATH RUN, THE ACFT ENTERED A CLIMB OVER A WOODED AREA & THE PLT BEGAN A STEEP LEFT TURN TO MANEUVER THE ACFT FOR A TRIM PASS OVER THE NORTH EDGE OF THE FIELD. A WITNESS RPRTD THAT ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY THRU THE TURN, THE ACFT APPEARED TO SNAP-ROLL. IT THEN ENTERED A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT & CRASHED. APRX 33 MI SOUTH AT JONESBORO, AR, THE 1051 CDT WIND WAS FROM 050 AT 7 KTS. NO PRE-ACDNT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND.
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: 10,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,811 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 30, 1989; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Reyno AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from JBR, 33 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.