Aero Commander S-2R accident near Dufur, Oregon, March 8, 1992
On March 8, 1992 at about 7:42 pm local time, a Aero Commander S-2R, registered N1763S, was destroyed in an accident near Dufur, Oregon. 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 PILOT IN COMMAND'S MISJUDGMENT OF CLEARANCE WITH THE POWER LINES. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: OBJECT (TRANSMISSION WIRE) AND SAFETY SYSTEM (NOT INSTALLED).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 1992 · about 7:42 pm local time
- Place
- Dufur, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S-2R · all S-2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N1763S · no longer on the register · serial 1419-R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN APPLYING HERBICIDE TO A WHEAT FIELD WHICH WAS CROSSED BY A DOUBLE SET OF POWER LINES. DURING A SWATH RUN AND WHILE FLYING EASTBOUND, THE AIRCRAFT'S CANOPY AND VERTICAL STABILIZER SNAGGED THE LOWEST SET OF WIRES WHICH WERE APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN UPPER FUSELAGE CABLE CUTTING SAFETY MECHANISM.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 9,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,933 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1992; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Richardson Airway, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from DLS, 10 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.