No fatalities

23 May 2020: Ayres S 2R — Artois, CA

Artois, CA, United States

On 23 May 2020, an Ayres S 2R Undesignat was involved in an aviation accident near Artois, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during a go-around. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During landing on a dirt airstrip, an airplane drifted into power lines. The pilot aborted the landing, but the left wing struck the lines. The aircraft tumbled and came to rest inverted. A later statement cited a ruptured brake line.

Accident Overview

During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that while landing, the airplane began to drift toward nearby power lines. He initiated a go-around, but the left wing caught the power lines. The airplane impacted the ground, tumbled several times, and came to rest inverted. The fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Initial Pilot Report

In the initial telephone interview, the pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Based on this report, the airplane was released to the owner, and the brake system was not examined.

Follow-up Statement

In a subsequent 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.

No Additional Details

The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, number of occupants, injuries, weather conditions, or ATC involvement.

Contributing factors

Causes

Altitude — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

PilotContributed to outcome