Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 accident near Yuba City, California, May 3, 2010
On May 3, 2010 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, registered N6018T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Yuba City, California (Vanderford Ranch CO Airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2010 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 2010
- Place
- Yuba City, California · Vanderford Ranch CO Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 · all S2R-T34s on the register
- Registration
- N6018T · registry record · serial T41-192
- 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 during departure for an aerial application flight the gearbox chip detector light illuminated approximately five miles from the runway. The pilot elected to reverse course and return to the airport. The airplane landed with a reported tailwind on runway 34. According to the pilot, during the landing roll the nose of the airplane made a sharp left turn as beta and braking were initiated. The airplane skidded and exited the left side of the runway into a field and impacted a berm. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. Shortly after the accident the operator stated that the pilot landed with a tailwind. The pilot subsequently reported winds of 300 degrees at 12 knots. The closest weather reporting station is located 7 miles east at Marysville. The reported winds at Marysville at the time of the accident were 140 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 17 knots. The operator also stated that there were no known mechanical failures and that there were parallel and equal skid marks left on the runway by the airplane as it decelerated.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 33,500 hours in all; 9,200 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,734 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 23, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: South Delta Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: CA73 Yuba City CA at 10:50 pm
- Destination: CA73 Yuba City CA
- Runway 34, 3,220 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 7, 2010. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Record of Telephone Call | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6018T on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Ayres Corporation S-2 243 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Ayres Corporation 243 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 3 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Vanderford Ranch Company Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,134 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR10CA225.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.