Rockwell S2R accident near Cottonwood, Idaho, June 6, 1990
On June 6, 1990 at about 2:25 pm local time, a Rockwell S2R, registered N5620X, was destroyed in an accident near Cottonwood, Idaho (Private airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE BERM, WHICH THE AIRPLANE STRUCK DURING LANDING, WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1990 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Cottonwood, Idaho · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S2R
- Registration
- N5620X · no longer on the register · serial 1820
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AGRICULTURAL AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AS THE PILOT WAS MAKING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A 5 TO 6 FOOT HIGH BERM JUST SHORT OF THE SELECTED FIELD, AND WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE AND IMPACT DAMAGE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,300 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 21, 1990; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W 1340-AN2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Prairie Flying Service INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Fenn ID at 2:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.
Other NTSB records under N5620X 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.