Ayres S2R-G6 N3105U

Summary

On 17 July 2003 at about 00:45 local time, a Ayres S2R-G6 registered N3105U was involved in an accident near Esmond, North Dakota, 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

17 July 2003 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Esmond, North Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Private (PVT)

Coordinates

48.0283, -99.6164

Aircraft

Ayres S2R-G6

Registration

N3105U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Esmond → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA215

Nobody was injured.

The obstruction of the windshield by the application chemical restricting the pilot's visual lookout, and the pilot's failure to perform an aborted takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were the leak in the hopper lid and the drainage ditch.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The agricultural airplane impacted a drainage ditch during takeoff from a private grass airstrip. The pilot reported the spray hopper was jarred during takeoff by a bump in the runway and some mist stuck to the windshield. The pilot stated the mist obstructed his vision and he was unable to distinguish between the grass runway and the soybean fields to either side. The pilot reported the airplane drifted first to the left and then to the right of the crown of the runway before lifting off in ground effect. The pilot reported the airplane landed and skidded sideways into a drainage ditch. The pilot reported he noticed the spray hopper lid was latched during his pre-flight inspection, but it had a tendency to seep" a little around the lid.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.