Casualties unknown

Agricultural Aircraft Struck Levee During Forced Landing After Nosedive Sensation (N6136Z)

Palestine, AR, US

On May 25, 2003, an Ayres S2R-G6 (registration N6136Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Palestine, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The shearing of the torsion shaft which resulted in a loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During a return flight from aerial application, the pilot experienced a nosedive sensation and performed a forced landing. The aircraft struck a levee and came to rest upright. Engine examination revealed a fractured torsion shaft at the shear point.

Incident Summary

A pilot conducting an aerial application completed spraying a field and was returning to a private airstrip to reload the hopper and refuel. During the return flight, the airplane experienced an unusual behavior: the pilot reported that it "felt like it tried to nosedive."

Pilot Actions

Upon sensing the nosedive tendency, the pilot checked the power settings and extended the flaps. The pilot then initiated a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a levee and came to rest upright.

Engine Examination

Post-incident examination of the engine revealed that the torsion shaft was fractured at the shear point. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, or injuries were provided in the source.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030527X00728. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.