Rockwell S-2R, B & R Aerial Crop Care, Inc., N8420V: Accident occurred June 16, 2015 near Kinch Farms Airport (WN72), Washtucna, Adams County, Washington

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Spokane, Washington 

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Docket And Docket Items - National Transportation Safety Board:   https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Data Summary -  National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

B & R Aerial Crop Care, Inc: http://registry.faa.gov/N8420V 

NTSB Identification: WPR15LA186
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Tuesday, June 16, 2015 in Washtucna, WA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/08/2015
Aircraft: ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S 2R, registration: N8420V
Injuries: 1 Serious.

NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot reported that, during the landing, the wind shifted to a quartering tailwind. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane veered left off the airstrip into an adjacent field. The airplane subsequently nosed over in the soft soil. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing with a quartering tailwind. 

On June 16, 2015, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Rockwell International S-2R, airplane, N8420V, sustained substantial damage during landing roll and subsequent noseover, in an adjacent field to the Kinch Farms Airport, Washtucna, Washington. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to B & R Aerial Crop Care, Inc., and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.

In a written statement, the pilot stated that during the 10th landing of the day on runway 3, the wind shifted resulting in a quartering tailwind. During the landing, he lost directional control and the airplane veered left into an adjacent field. The field had recently been plowed, and the soil was soft. Subsequently, the airplane nosed-over, resulting in substantial damage to the canopy roll cage structure.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The nearest weather reporting station reported wind near the time of the accident was from 130 degrees at 5 knots, gusting up to 10 knots.

A postaccident examination of the airplane was conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The cockpit overhead structural tubing was bent, and the pilot's helmet had impact marks.