Thrush Aircraft LLC S2R-T660 accident near Hermiston, Oregon, April 17, 2021
On April 17, 2021 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2020 Thrush Aircraft LLC S2R-T660, registered N51080, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Hermiston, Oregon (Hermiston Muni 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control due to a blown tire, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2021 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hermiston, Oregon · Hermiston Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thrush Aircraft LLC S2R-T660 NO SERIES, built 2020 · all S2R-T660s on the register
- Registration
- N51080 · registry record · serial T660-158DC
- 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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll, the left main landing gear tire failed. The airplane veered left, exited the runway and impacted terrain. The right wing and the engine truss sustained substantial damage. The pilot added that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Tire casing › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 4, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 130 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 9, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 14,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-67AG (turboprop); 130 hours total
- Operator: K2 Aerial Application LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05/2, 4,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from HRI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR21LA162.