History of Flight
On August 17, 2008, at 1305 central daylight time, an Ayres S2R-T15, registration N4015P, collided with trees while approaching an application area in Morton, Mississippi. The pilot was killed. The aircraft, operated by Cochran Flying Service under 14 CFR Part 137, incurred substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
According to the operator's representative, the pilot had made several applications earlier in the day. He returned to a private airstrip in Canton, Mississippi, to refuel with 100 gallons of fuel and load 120 gallons of pesticide for the next scheduled application. The pilot departed around 1245. A family member became concerned when the pilot did not return by the expected time. The crop owner reported that the airplane was never seen and there was no indication the crop was sprayed. Local authorities were notified and a search was initiated. The airplane was located that evening approximately 1/4 mile north of the intended crop. It was on a southerly heading when it collided with trees.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine and multi-engine land ratings, with a limitation prohibiting carrying passengers for hire at night or on cross-country flights exceeding 50 nautical miles. He was issued a second-class medical certificate on March 28, 2008, with a limitation requiring corrective lenses. The pilot reported 19,000 total flight hours at the time of the medical. He also held an airframe and powerplant certificate with an inspection authorization rating. The pilot's flight logbooks were not provided.
Aircraft Information
The Ayres S2R-T15, serial number T15-004, was built in 1979. Its classification was restricted, with a category of agriculture and pest control. The FAA inspector reviewed maintenance records and noted an annual inspection on the airframe, propeller, and engine on February 17, 2008, at which time the aircraft had accumulated 11,356 total hours. Maintenance was also performed on June 10, 2008.
Meteorological Information
The nearest official weather station was Jackson International Airport (JAN), located 24 miles southwest of the accident site. The 1254 surface observation recorded: winds 030 at 9 knots; visibility 8 statute miles; sky condition scattered at 1,400 feet, cumulonimbus clouds, broken at 4,900 to 6,500 feet, rain; temperature 28°C; dew point 22°C; altimeter 29.59 inHg. Weather information from the U.S. Department of Commerce for the accident area and time indicated no conditions that would have adversely affected the pilot or aircraft during the accident flight.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The FAA inspector reported that the onboard GPS system stopped recording approximately 1 mile north-northwest of the accident site. The airplane was on a south heading when it collided with trees. It came to rest in a heavily wooded area on a heading of 180 degrees. The propeller cut several trees and branches during descent. The aircraft separated into several sections during the crash sequence. The fuselage and wings came to rest 84 feet from the initial tree contact, and the engine section came to rest 75 feet from the fuselage. Examination established flight control continuity, with all separations attributed to impact damage. All flight control surfaces and systems were found at the accident site.
The engine and propeller were examined by their respective manufacturers with NTSB and FAA oversight. No mechanical discrepancies were noted. Engine damage was consistent with operation at mid to high power at impact. The propeller was rotating and not feathered, with blade damage consistent with high power at impact.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Mississippi State Medical Examiners Office conducted a postmortem examination. The cause of death for the pilot was blunt force trauma. The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute performed toxicology testing; no carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, or drugs were detected.