Ayres S2R-T34AG accident near Moses Lake, Washington, February 23, 1995
On February 23, 1995 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-T34AG, registered N4021Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moses Lake, Washington. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE ABOVE THE TERRAIN. FACTORS INCLUDE HIS DIVERTED ATTENTION AND ATTEMPTED MANEUVER TO AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1995 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Moses Lake, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34AG
- Registration
- N4021Z · no longer on the register · serial T34-028
- 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 STATED THAT, WHILE RETURNING TO BASE TO RELOAD AFTER CONDUCTING AERIAL APPLICATION ACTIVITY, HIS ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED OUT THE LEFT WINDOW BY ANOTHER FIELD WHICH WAS TO BE SPRAYED LATER. WHEN HE LOOKED AHEAD AGAIN, HE SAW POWER TRANSMISSION LINES IMMEDIATELY AHEAD AND APPLIED IMMEDIATE, ABRUPT FORWARD PRESSURE ON THE STICK. THE AIRCRAFT MISSED THE POWER LINES BUT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN.
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
- Flight time: 10,442 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 10,442 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1994; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WA40 WA at 9:45 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.
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.