Ayres S2R accident near Burley, Idaho, June 2, 1994
On June 2, 1994 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Ayres S2R, registered N8542, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burley, 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
A LOOSE CARBURETOR. FACTORS INCLUDE NO SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR MAKING A FORCED LANDING, AND TREES IN THE FIELD WHERE THE FORCED LANDING TOOK PLACE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1994 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Burley, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R
- Registration
- N8542 · no longer on the register · serial R-1820-0012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AS THE AERIAL APPLICATION PILOT WAS COMPLETING A SPRAY RUN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THERE WAS NO SUITABLE LANDING SITE AVAILABLE, AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A NEARBY FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A TREE LINE THAT RAN ACROSS THE FIELD. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE CARBURETOR MOUNTING BOLTS HAD COME LOOSE, ALLOWING THE FUEL MIXTURE TO BECOME TOO LEAN.
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
- Flight time: 14,421 hours in all; 511 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1993; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820-71 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: County Road ID at 8:30 pm
- Destination: ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°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.