Thrush Aircraft INC S2RHG T65 accident near Parma, Idaho, July 16, 2014
On July 16, 2014 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 2004 Thrush Aircraft INC S2RHG T65, registered N4036G, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Parma, Idaho (50S airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to take off with a tailwind, which resulted in the airplane not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2014 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Parma, Idaho · 50S · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thrush Aircraft INC S2RHG T65, built 2004 · all S2RHG T65s on the register
- Registration
- N4036G · no longer on the register · serial T65HG-018G
- 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 he was on his sixth chemical application load of the day. He had a full load of chemicals (500 gallons), which brought the airplane close to maximum gross weight. During takeoff the airplane did not achieve rotation speed before it approached the end of the 2,700-foot-long runway. The pilot raised the nose to take off attitude, the airplane lifted off then settled back down, colliding with a barbwire fence and an irrigation ditch. The horizontal stabilizer and elevator were substantially damaged. Another Ag pilot who witnessed the accident stated that the pilot had taken off with a 6-knot tail wind. There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 2,780 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 4, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,925 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell Garrett TPE991-10-511 (turboprop); 12,320 hours total
- Operator: Bain Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: 50S Parma ID at 3:45 pm
- Destination: 50S Parma ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KONO, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.