Ayres S-2R accident near Kuna, Idaho, July 24, 1986
On July 24, 1986 at about 5:20 am local time, a Ayres S-2R, registered N5017X, was destroyed in an accident near Kuna, Idaho. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. 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
- July 24, 1986 · about 5:20 am local time
- Place
- Kuna, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S-2R
- Registration
- N5017X · no longer on the register · serial 5049R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT WAS OBSERVED IN ORBIT PATTERN NEAR OBJECT FIELD FOR NIGHT AERIAL APPLICATION. PLT OVERFLEW OBJECT FIELD SECURED ACFT LIGHTS AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER COLLIDED WITH POWERLINE TOWER. PLT HAD MADE APPLICATION AT THIS FIELD FOUR PREVIOUS TIMES THIS YEAR. GROUND OBSERVERS SPECULATE UNUSUAL PATTERN AND PLT ACTIONS INDICATIVE OF PLT UNSURE OF GROUND REFERENCES. A FIELD WORKER TRIED TO HELP RESCUE THE PLT AND WAS BURNED SERIOUSLY.
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
- Flight time: 5,527 hours in all; 5,527 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 5,423 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,577 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1986; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W 1340 AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 100° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 am from BOI, 9 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.
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.