Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper approach path during landing, which resulted in landing short of the runway.
NTSB analysis
According to the owner of the agricultural application airplane, the commercial pilot was performing a simulated agricultural application flight with about 70 gallons of water in the hopper. After spraying water on the fields next to the private runway, during landing, the airplane touched down short of the runway. The main landing gear (MLG) struck a ditch, and the right MLG separated.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The owner added that, before the flight, the pilot had accumulated 0.3 hour of total flight experience in the airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA410 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 1, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Pantego, North Carolina
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Ayres S2R
- N-number
- N3098L
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1990
- 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.