Ayres S2R-T34 N3105B

Summary

On 6 April 1995 at about 00:09 local time, a Ayres S2R-T34 registered N3105B, operated by Walton Enterprises of Arizona, was involved in an accident near Stanfield, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 April 1995 at 00:09

Classification

Accident

Location

Stanfield, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Ayres S2R-T34

Registration

N3105B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Walton Enterprises of Arizona

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA154

1 person died.

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout for, and clearance from, obstacles while conducting simulated aerial application operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE SURVIVING PASSENGER SAID HE HAD NO MEMORY OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND WAS IN THE REAR SEAT TO OBSERVE THE USE OF A GPS-BASED GUIDANCE SYSTEM WHICH HIS COMPANY HAD PURCHASED. THE OPERATOR IS A DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND WAS CONDUCTING CLASSES FOR PURCHASERS OF THE SYSTEM. THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO CHEMICALS ON BOARD. A WITNESS WAS 1 MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE AND SAW THE AIRCRAFT IN A TURN NEAR THE EDGE OF A FARM FIELD, THEN SAW THE BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM THE SITE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR WHO SAW WIRE CONTACT SIGNATURES ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND SPREADER BOOMS. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE TURNING FROM A SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST DIRECTION IN A 40-DEGREE BANKED TURN WHEN IT STRUCK FOUR 1-INCH DIAMETER ALUMINUM POWER LINES AT A FARM FIELD'S WESTERN BOUNDARY. THREE OF THE LINES WERE SEVERED. THREE SEPARATE SECTIONS OF THE WIRE HAD ENDS WITH A CUT APPEARANCE, WITH NO EVIDENCE OF DUCTILE DEFORMATION OR NECKING. THE PROPELLER DISPLAYED LEADING EDGE DAMAGE, CHORDWISE SCORING, TORSIONAL TWIST SIGNATURES, AND TIP BENDING OPPOSITE THE CAMBERED SIDE. NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.