Ayres S2R N8960Q

Summary

On 21 July 1998 at about 14:15 local time, a Ayres S2R registered N8960Q was involved in an accident near Shafter, 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

21 July 1998 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Shafter, California, United States

Coordinates

35.4902, -119.3007

Aircraft

Ayres S2R

Registration

N8960Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX98LA238

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from the irrigation standpipe due to glare from the rising sun.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with an irrigation standpipe while applying chemicals to a field. The pilot stated that this was the last pass over the cotton field in an easterly direction. The sun had just risen and was reflecting off a clear plastic crop cover located next to the standpipe and the glare made it difficult to see straight ahead. The pilot stated that he saw the standpipe at the last minute and attempted to maneuver around it by pulling the aircraft up. After colliding with the standpipe, he made an emergency landing and came to rest inverted. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the aircraft. According to a computer generated Sun/Moon astrological program, the magnetic bearing to the sun was 60.7 degrees, and it was approximately 14.4 degrees above the horizon.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.