Rockwell THRUSH S2R accident near Carlisle, Arkansas, May 30, 1989
On May 30, 1989 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Rockwell THRUSH S2R, registered N4900X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlisle, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO A CRACKED CYLINDER AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO ATTEMPT A LANDING IN A RICE FIELD WHERE THE GEAR COLLAPSED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1989 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Carlisle, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell THRUSH S2R
- Registration
- N4900X · no longer on the register
- 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 SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE QUIT.THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE LOAD HE HAD ONBOARD AND ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A RICE FIELD. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE HOPPER AND BOTH WINGS WERE DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 9 CYLINDER HAD CRACKED.
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
- Flight time: 3,064 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 281 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,079 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Almond Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Carlisle AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:49 pm from LIT
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.