Ayres S2R-T45 accident near Royal City, Washington, April 30, 2001
On April 30, 2001 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-T45, registered N6129D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Royal City, Washington. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Trees were a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2001 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Royal City, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T45
- Registration
- N6129D · no longer on the register · serial T45-005DC
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, he leveled the aircraft about 150 to 200 feet AGL and adjusted the power for cruise. The pilot noted that the fuel lever did not appear to be in its usual position, and he applied pressure to the lever to confirm that it was against the stop. Shortly after application of this pressure, the engine quit. Due to the low altitude, the pilot did not attempt a restart. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with a mound of downed trees and nosed over. During the airframe and engine inspection, no mechanical failures or malfunctions were noted. The fuel control unit was removed and tested. The FCU performance was nominal and within field adjustment limits. The unit was held in a maximum fuel flow condition for a five minute period. No decay of fuel flow was observed. The fuel control reacted to speed, P3 air pressure and power lever test inputs.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,850 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 13,765 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 8, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,037 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 2000; 37 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-45R (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA8 Royal City WA at 3:14 pm
- Destination: Royal City WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from MWH, 22 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 N6129D 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.