Rockwell S-2R accident near Mountain Home, Idaho, June 24, 2005
On June 24, 2005 at about 1:56 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4865X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mountain Home, Idaho. 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 pilot's inadequate in-flight decision by failing to refuel resulting in fuel exhaustion during cruise flight and the loss of engine power. A vehicle was a factor in the on ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2005 · about 1:56 pm local time
- Place
- Mountain Home, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N4865X · registry record · serial 2060R
- 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 reported that he had just dumped a load of pesticide and was returning to the airport, knowing that he was low on fuel. About 1/2 mile short of the runway, the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. During the forced landing on a highway, he overtook a heavy truck during the landing roll. The right wing came in contact with the truck and the aircraft subsequently traveled off the north side of the road and down an embankment before coming to rest.
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: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,086 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 16,902 as pilot in command; 127 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,555 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 8,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-1-151 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U76 Mountain Home ID
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from MUO, 7 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 N4865X 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.