Ayres S 2R N5573X

Summary

On 23 May 2020 at about 02:00 local time, a Ayres S 2R registered N5573X was involved in an accident near Artois, California, 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

23 May 2020 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Artois, California, United States

Coordinates

39.6172, -122.1925

Aircraft

Ayres S 2R

Registration

N5573X

Category

Airplane

Year built

1975

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marysville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20CA153

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during a go-around.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that, as he was landing, the airplane started to drift into nearby power lines. He initiated a go around; however, the left wing caught the power lines. The airplane impacted the ground and tumbled several times before it came to rest inverted. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.  In a follow-up written statement, the pilot reported that during the landing on a dirt airstrip, the right-side brake failed due to a ruptured brake line. During the aborted landing, the airplane hit a power pole and wires.  During the initial interview and report of no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane, the airplane was released to the owner and the brake system was not examined.         

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.