Ayres S2R accident near Imperial, California, May 9, 2020
On May 9, 2020 at about 7:10 pm local time, a Ayres S2R, registered N2245S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Imperial, California (Imperial County 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 loss of control during a landing roll due to a failure of the main O-ring in the right brake assembly, which resulted in a loss of brake pressure and subsequent brake failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2020 · about 7:10 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Imperial, California · Imperial County · 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 S2R G1
- Registration
- N2245S · registry record · serial G1-106
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after landing, the airplane veered left. The pilot used right rudder and applied right brake to counteract the turn, and the airplane began to straighten out. Immediately after, he felt that the right brake was not working, and the airplane again made an immediate turn to the left. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, the left-wing tip impacted the ground, and the airplane spun to the left, which resulted in a collapse of the left main landing gear and substantial damage to the left wing. An examination of the right brake assembly revealed that the center piston O-ring was damaged, and the right brake hydraulic fluid reservoir was empty. These discrepancies resulted in the loss of brake pressure and subsequent failure of the right brake.
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
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Hydraulic fluid › Fluid level other cases naming the other and general
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Failure other cases naming the landing gear
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: sngl
The aircraft
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Airesearch TPE331 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Farmers Services
The flight
- Departed from: IPL Imperial CA
- Destination: IPL Imperial CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,308 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KIPL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Accident site, forward view of the wreckage.
Photo 2 – Postaccident examination-brake parts.
Photo 3 – Accident site, view of the left main landing gear.
Photo 4 – Accident site, forward left view of the wreckage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 9, 2022. 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 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation-pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Examination Notes | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array-courtesy of Owner | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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
- N2245S on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Airesearch TPE331 4 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Imperial County · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,112 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR20LA172.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.