No fatalities

7 Sep 2012: AYRES CORPORATION S2R-R1340 — FARM AVIATION INC — Brawley, CA

Brawley, CA, United States

On 7 Sep 2012, an AYRES CORPORATION S2R-R1340 operated by FARM AVIATION INC was involved in an aviation accident near Brawley, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to attempt to takeoff in high temperatures with a tailwind. Contributing to the accident was the sun glare. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 17 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During an agricultural application flight, the pilot attempted a downwind takeoff in high temperatures, resulting in the aircraft failing to climb and impacting a ditch.

Accident Details

The pilot of an agricultural application aircraft reported that after reloading product, he erroneously attempted a downwind takeoff. The outside temperature was estimated at 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The airplane departed from a dirt strip in a westbound direction, and the pilot was looking directly into the setting sun.

Sequence of Events

Following departure, the airplane did not climb as expected and impacted a ditch located at the west end of the runway. The aircraft subsequently nosed over. The pilot stated that the wind had shifted while he was reloading, but he did not notice the change until after the accident.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings and fuselage as a result of the impact.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported no abnormalities with the aircraft prior to the accident.

Contributing factors

Effect on equipmentAwareness of conditionEffect on personnelPilot