History of Flight
On July 23, 2022, at 0912 central daylight time, an Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, registration N4046S, was destroyed when it struck guy wires of a tower and impacted terrain near Parkin, Arkansas. The airplane was operating as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. According to the operator, the pilot arrived at work about 0600 and began flying about 0630-0645, conducting multiple flights before the accident. ADS-B data indicated that the airplane made several passes over the field north of the tower. During the final pass, the airplane turned north toward the western guy wires, struck them, and then impacted the ground north of the tower.
The operator's representative stated that they discussed the field's obstructions extensively, including the location of the tower and its guy wires. The representative noted that the pilot had previously flown over the field more than once. The operator did not submit the required NTSB accident report form.
Wreckage and Impact
The main wreckage was located about 200 feet north of the tower. Three of the tower's four guy wires exhibited shear separation and were pulled toward the wreckage. The right wing showed damage consistent with a guy wire ripping through its structure. The airplane was destroyed by postcrash fire and impact forces; the wings and tail section were not consumed by fire. Due to accident damage, flight control continuity could not be confirmed by FAA inspectors. The propeller displayed S-shaped bending consistent with power generation. No mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation were reported.
Medical and Pathological Information
At the pilot's most recent FAA medical examination on January 21, 2022, he reported no medications or medical conditions. An autopsy determined the cause of death as multiple injuries, and the manner of death as accident. No significant natural disease was identified. Toxicology testing detected delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) in heart blood at 1.7 ng/mL and in urine at 1.4 ng/mL; 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC in urine at 16.4 ng/mL; carboxy-delta-9-THC in heart blood at 7.4 ng/mL and in urine at 40 ng/mL; delta-8-THC in heart blood at 3.3 ng/mL and in urine at 0.8 ng/mL; and carboxy-delta-8-THC in heart blood at 15.3 ng/mL and in urine at 120.7 ng/mL.