Rockwell S2R accident near Caldwell, Idaho, August 4, 1985
On August 4, 1985 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Rockwell S2R, registered N5511X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Caldwell, Idaho (Unknown 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1985 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Caldwell, Idaho · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S2R
- Registration
- N5511X · registry record · serial 1711R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN AERO COMMANDER S2R HAD BEEN MODIFIED BY THE INSTALLATION OF AN AIR RESEARCH TPE-331-43A POWER PLANT. DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD BANG AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FIRST STAGE TURBINE WHEE, PART #867569-4 HAD DISINTEGRATED.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,785 hours in all; 588 in the last 90 days; 3,735 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29,558 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1985; 186 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Airesearch TPE-331-43A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Davison'S Air Svc, INC
The flight
- Departed from: G4U Caldwell ID at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:30 am
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 N5511X 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.