Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident were the uneven runway, the runway edge, and the cornfield.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he had departed from the private airstrip on two previous agricultural aerial application flights. During the next takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left when it passed the center crown in the runway. He reported that the main wheel "caught" a deep rut at the runway edge. The airplane went off the runway and the left wing impacted a cornfield, which spun the airplane around. The landing gear, propeller, and empennage sustained substantial damage. The airport used by the pilot was a privately owned, paved airstrip used only by agricultural spray aircraft.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CHI08CA198 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 18, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Carthage, Illinois
- Nearest airport
- Carthage (Closed Airport) (I48)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Rockwell S2R
- N-number
- N8466V
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 137 (agricultural)
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial application
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.