Rockwell S2R accident near Caldwell, Idaho, June 25, 1986
On June 25, 1986 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Rockwell S2R, registered N4973X, was destroyed in an accident near Caldwell, Idaho (Caldwell Industrial 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
- June 25, 1986 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Caldwell, Idaho · Caldwell Industrial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S2R
- Registration
- N4973X · no longer on the register · serial 5018R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE THE PILOT COULD NOT GET ANY AILERON RESPONSE. A LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED AT A NEARBY AIRPORT WHERE A GO AROUND BECAME NECESSARY. DURING THE GO AROUND CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOST AND IT DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THE PILOT FAILED TO REMOVE THE CONTROL LOCK PRIOR TO FLIGHT.
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: 10,500 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 10,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,315 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1300B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Davidson Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: 64U Caldwell ID at 12:14 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 7,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°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.
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.