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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2021 · about 9:00 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Hermiston, Oregon · Hermiston Muni · 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
- 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 other cases naming the landing gear
- 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of airplane with a collapsed right landing gear
Photo 2 – View of damaged right wing root and fuselage damage
Photo 3 – View of damaged engine trussThe 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2021. 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Memorandum for Record | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 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
- N51080 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Thrush Aircraft Llc S2 52 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-67AG 12 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Hermiston Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,864 since 1982 · 279 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,008 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA162.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.