Rockwell S2R T34 accident near Heth, Arkansas, March 17, 1989
On March 17, 1989 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Rockwell S2R T34, registered N4968X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Heth, 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
AIRCRAFT CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND DUE TO LANDING IN A TAILWIND OF EXCESSIVE VELOCITY WHICH THE PILOT MISJUDGED OR FAILED TO RECOGNIZE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 1989 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Heth, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S2R T34
- Registration
- N4968X · no longer on the register · serial 5013R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PERFORMING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE PLT SAID THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH A 15 TO 25 KNOT TAILWIND, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN. THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY, WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER AND TURBINE ENGINE. THE ACFT SUBSEQUENTLY CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED BACK TO THE COCKPIT AREA. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACC REPORT.
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: 11,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT-6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Heth AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from JBR
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 N4968X 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.