Rockwell International S 2R accident near Medicine Lake, Montana, May 21, 2014
On May 21, 2014 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1977 Rockwell International S 2R, registered N702CB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Medicine Lake, Montana (Sher-Wood 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 airplane control and sufficient altitude to clear terrain during a low-altitude maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2014 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Medicine Lake, Montana · Sher-Wood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell International S 2R UNDESIGNAT, built 1977 · all S 2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N702CB · no longer on the register · serial 5085R
- 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 reported that he was maneuvering the airplane into a left banking turn after an aerial application. He added that, the next thing that he could remember, was that he could not arrest the airplane's descent and that it was heading toward the ground. The pilot tried to correct the airplane's attitude by pulling up, but the airplane subsequently impacted terrain. Wreckage examination revealed that the left wing contacted the ground first. Engine examination and component testing did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot did not maintain airplane control and sufficient altitude to clear terrain during the turn.
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 in flight during maneuvering
- Ground collision during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,900 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command; 1,008 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,833 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-5-252K (turboprop); 12,833 hours total
- Operator: Clear Skies Aviation, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PWD Medicine Lake MT at 7:15 pm
- Destination: PWD Medicine Lake MT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from KISN, 36 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.