Ayres S2R-R1340 N4020G

Summary

On 18 June 1998 at about 13:15 local time, a Ayres S2R-R1340 registered N4020G was involved in an accident near Humphrey, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 June 1998 at 13:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Humphrey, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

34.4191, -91.7008

Aircraft

Ayres S2R-R1340

Registration

N4020G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98FA272

1 person died.

The pilot's visual lookout was inadequate for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The agricultural aircraft impacted trees while applying fertilizer to a rice field. A person about a mile from the field where the pilot was working, heard the airplane as it worked the field. About 3 or 4 minutes after he heard the airplane's engine 'quit,' and he saw smoke. Continuity was established to all flight control surfaces, and both propeller blades exhibited signatures of engine power. The pilot had reported not feeling good and planned to go home after the next flight. Although the autopsy of the pilot noted severe coronary disease, there were no areas of complete blockage of the coronary arteries, and there was no evidence of an old or recent myocardial infarction (heart attack) identified. The pilot was being treated for high blood pressure with two medicines: Sural (nisoldipine) and Levatol (penbutolol). Nisoldipine and Penbutolol are prescription medications prescribed for patients with high blood pressure. Possible side effects include low blood pressure and slowed heart rate. Also, it was possible that the pilot's medications in combination with his existing cardiac disease could have significantly reduced his tolerance to repeated G-exposure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.