Rockwell S 2R N4952X

Summary

On 29 June 2016 at about 04:15 local time, a Rockwell S 2R registered N4952X, operated by Farm Aviation, was involved in an accident near Brawley, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 June 2016 at 04:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Brawley, California, United States

Nearest airport

Brawley Muni (BWC)

Coordinates

32.9894, -115.5031

Aircraft

Rockwell S 2R

Registration

N4952X

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Engines

1

Operator

Farm Aviation

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brawley → Brawley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR16LA137

Nobody was injured.

The airplane’s inability to climb and subsequent impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was departing on an agricultural application flight. After climbing to between 100 and 125 ft above ground level, he reduced engine power in order not to exceed red line. Soon after, the airplane stopped climbing and began to descend. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot initiated a forced landing, during which the right wing impacted terrain and the landing gear collapsed. A postaccident examination revealed no preimpact anomalies with the engine or airplane systems that would have precluded normal operation. A weight and balance calculation determined that the airplane was operating within its weight and balance limitations at the time of the accident. The reason for the airplane's inability to climb could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.