Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 9, 2014 · Ayres S2R T34 T34 · N3097F

Buckeye, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 9, 2014
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Buckeye, AZ
Aircraft
Ayres S2R T34 T34 (1989)
Tail Number
N3097F
Operator
Farm Ag Enterprises
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR14LA371

The operator reported that the commercial pilot had conducted agricultural flights in the airplane for about 2 to 3 hours earlier on the morning of the accident without problems. During the initial climb for the accident flight, about 30 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power. Subsequently, the pilot conducted an emergency landing straight ahead, and the airplane descended and impacted a field, during which the wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Fuel samples were taken from the fuel tanks and the operator's fuel supply tank. Testing of the samples revealed that the fuel from both the airplane's fuel tanks and the operator's supply tank were essentially water. It is likely that the loss of engine power was due to water contamination of the fuel.

NTSB Probable Cause

A partial loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel.

Full Narrative

On September 9, 2014, about 1000 mountain standard time, an Ayres S2R-T34 airplane, N3097F, was substantially damaged during an off-airport emergency landing, following a loss of engine power during the takeoff initial climb from a private agricultural airstrip, about 30 miles west of Buckeye, Arizona. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Farm AG Enterprises, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that was originating at the time. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), a company representative reported that the pilot had flown the airplane for about 2-3 hours that morning, and no problems with the airplane had been reported. He said the pilot told him that during the accident takeoff, all systems were normal as the airplane lifted off the ground. Upon reaching about 30 ft above the ground, the engine's rpm dropped as though someone had pulled the power lever to idle. The pilot flew the airplane straight ahead, and it descended into a field. During the off-airport landing, the airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. During a post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air safety inspector no mechanical anomalies were found. Fuel samples were taken from the airplane and the operator's fuel supply tank and sent to an independent laboratory for testing. According to the laboratory director, the fuel samples taken from both the airplane's fuel system and the operator's supply tank were essentially water, and there was insufficient fuel in the samples to test. The operator/pilot did not submit the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Form (NTSB 6120.1) to the NTSB.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:00 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAyres S2R T34 T34
Tail NumberN3097F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorFarm Ag Enterprises
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W Canada · PT6A-60A · Turboprop · 1127
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 68 · Unknown · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point68 F
Altimeter28.89 inHg
Observation Time16:55
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data