Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Snow Lake, Arkansas, May 30, 1989
On May 30, 1989, a Ayres S2R-T34, registered N3092S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Snow Lake, Arkansas (Snow Lake 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 SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN TO TAKEOFF FROM BY THE PILOT AND THE INADEQUATE RUNWAY MAINTENANCE BY AIRPORT PERSONNEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIDDEN HOLE WHICH THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED RESULTING IN THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1989
- Place
- Snow Lake, Arkansas · Snow Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Registration
- N3092S · registry record · serial T34-100DC
- 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 ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE PILOT SAID HE HIT A WATER FILLED HOLE ON THE RUNWAY. THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A POLE. BOTH WINGS AND THE EMPENNAGE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AREA HAD BEEN DELUGED WITH HEAVY RAINS, AND THE HOLE THAT WAS STRUCK WAS WHERE A POLE HAD BEEN REMOVED. THE HEAVY RAINS CAUSED THE SOIL AROUND THE HOLE TO SINK IN AND ENLARGE THE INDENTATION.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 19,800 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 678 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 29, 1989; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT-6-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Snow Lake AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°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 N3092S 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.