Accident Overview
On July 28, 2025, at approximately 1537 central daylight time, an Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 airplane, registration N524SL, was involved in an accident near Akron, Iowa. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot received serious injuries. The flight was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural application flight by Crop Dusters LLC, based at Sioux County Regional Airport (SXK) in Maurice, Iowa.
Flight Details
The purpose of the flight was to apply a liquid chemical mixture to a corn field in a rural area. The airplane departed SXK at about 1456. At departure, it carried approximately 175 gallons of Jet A fuel and about 422 gallons of a mixture containing AccuDrop, Aproach Prima, and Lamda-CY AG in the hopper. Upon arriving at the field, the pilot performed two reconnaissance passes to identify obstacles, wires, and sensitive areas. After verifying engine power settings, he began aerial application work.
Engine Failure and Emergency Response
After several spray passes, while maneuvering for another pass to the north, the engine experienced a total loss of power at about 70 feet above ground level. The pilot reported that the engine “sounded like it exploded.” There were no prior indications of abnormal engine performance. The pilot immediately leveled the airplane and scanned the cockpit instruments, observing torque (TQ) below 30 psi and inter-turbine temperature (ITT) well below 700° Celsius. He pushed the propeller lever forward but received no response, then pulled it to the feather position, after which he felt the airplane begin to glide.
Directly in the airplane’s flight path were a house and a church. The pilot decided not to perform an emergency hopper dump to avoid possible chemical exposure to ground personnel. He also considered that a dump might increase altitude, potentially causing the airplane to land near other homes, farm buildings, and wires. He described this as a calculated decision to avoid injury and property damage.
Forced Landing and Aftermath
The pilot maneuvered the airplane to a nearby soybean field for the forced landing. During the landing roll, the main landing gear dug into wet ground, causing the airplane to nose over. The pilot released himself from the 4-point restraint system and egressed through the fractured left window. He then walked to a nearby home for assistance. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. It was recovered from the site and transported to a secure location for future examination.
Aircraft Information
The airplane, known as a Turbo Thrush, was manufactured in 1994. It is a dual-cockpit configuration with two tandem seats and a 500-gallon hopper. The Federal Aviation Administration Type Certificate A4SW is held by Thrush Aircraft, LLC. The engine was a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG turboprop, and the propeller was a Hartzell HC-B4TN-3C/T10702NS four-blade controllable pitch aluminum model. On May 15, 2025, at a total of 1,073.1 hours since overhaul, the engine had an annual inspection performed. On May 16, 2025, at 13,268.4 airframe hours, the airframe also had an annual inspection. The pilot reported no known issues prior to the accident and stated that the sun did not interfere with his vision, nor did he feel fatigued. The calculated density altitude for the closest meteorological reporting station was 3,615 feet.