Rockwell S-2R N4977X

Summary

On 11 March 1994 at about 03:45 local time, a Rockwell S-2R registered N4977X, operated by Schmit Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Tacna, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 March 1994 at 03:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Tacna, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

32.6807, -113.9704

Aircraft

Rockwell S-2R

Registration

N4977X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Schmit Aviation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX94LA158

1 person had minor injuries.

a catastrophic internal engine failure for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the dark nighttime lighting conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had finished the aerial application mission and was returning to the airstrip. The engine began to lose oil pressure and power and the pilot diverted to a dirt airstrip on a mesa, which is not equipped with runway lights. As the aircraft neared the dirt airstrip, the engine seized. The pilot touched down adjacent to the dirt runway and a wing collided with a berm. The operator reported that the engine sustained a catastrophic internal failure. No apparent cause was reported for the failure. The night was dark with no moon for illumination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.