Rockwell S-2R accident near Murtaugh, Idaho, August 3, 1991
On August 3, 1991 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Rockwell S-2R, registered N4865X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Murtaugh, 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 IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN HIS ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF WITH THE AIRCRAFT LOADED OVER MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1991 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Murtaugh, 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 ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A DIRT ROAD ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLT AND THE ACFT DID NOT BECOME AIRBORNE IN THE SUITABLE TAKEOFF PORTION OF THE ROAD. THE ACFT STRUCK A GUY WIRE, VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO A CULTIVATED FIELD AND NOSED OVER. WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS INDICATED THE ACFT WAS APPROX 982 LBS OVER MAX CERT TAKEOFF GROSS WEIGHT.
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
- Flight time: 7,435 hours in all; 2,850 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 7,215 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: AG Aero, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from TWF, 13 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.