MEC&F Expert Engineers : Cropduster pilot Steven Turner, 40, of Mexicali died after his 1975 Rockwell S-2R Thrush Commander plane crashed and burned in Imperial County, east of Calipatria, CA

Thursday, August 24, 2017

Cropduster pilot Steven Turner, 40, of Mexicali died after his 1975 Rockwell S-2R Thrush Commander plane crashed and burned in Imperial County, east of Calipatria, CA



Crop duster crashes into field east of Calipatria

Crystal Bedoya

August 22, 2017


CALIPATRIA, Calif. - UPDATE: The Imperial County Fire Department and Imperial County Sheriff's Office have confirmed the identity of the person who died in a small plane Tuesday.

 Steven Turner, 40, of Mexicali, died in the crash. Only one person was on board. Officials say Turner was working at the time, crop dusting.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are now investigating. No word yet on what caused the crash.

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A small plane went up in flames after crashing into an agricultural field in Imperial County on Tuesday around noon. Authorities are still investigating the incident.

Imperial County and Calipatria firefighters, as well as paramedics, responded to the field located between the Yocum and Butters Roads east of Calipatria. According to authorities, the incident was reported by a person who was near the area.

Fire Marshal Battalion Angel Morales said the person reporting the incident said there was no explosion or smoke before the plane crashed.

So far authorities have not confirmed whether the pilot died at the time of impact or whether there were other injured people. However, Sheriff patrols arrived as well as the forensic team.

The plane appeared to be a field-spraying aircraft, but authorities have not confirmed this because the investigation continues.

We will have more information as it becomes available.


Aircraft Description

Serial Number 5054R Status Valid
Manufacturer Name ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL Certificate Issue Date 01/25/2016
Model S-2R Expiration Date 01/31/2019
Type Aircraft Fixed Wing Single-Engine Type Engine Turbo-prop
Pending Number Change None Dealer No
Date Change Authorized None Mode S Code (base 8 / oct) 51442022
MFR Year 1975 Mode S Code (base 16 / hex) A64412
Type Registration Corporation Fractional Owner NO

Registered Owner

Name BANK OF UTAH TRUSTEE
Street 200 E SOUTH TEMPLE STE 210
   
City SALT LAKE CITY State UTAH
County SALT LAKE Zip Code 84111-1346
Country UNITED STATES

Airworthiness

Engine Manufacturer WRIGHT Classification Restricted
Engine Model C7BA SERIES Category Agriculture and Pest Control
A/W Date 08/07/1975  






Date: 22-AUG-2017
Time: 12:00 LT
Type:
Rockwell S-2R Thrush Commander
Owner/operator: Private
Registration: N5022X
C/n / msn: 5054R
Fatalities: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: Imperial County, east of Calipatria, CA - United States of America
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature: Agricultural
Departure airport:

Destination airport:

Narrative:
The cropduster plane crashed under unknown circumstances and was destroyed by fire. The pilot died in the crash.

Sources:
http://www.kyma.com/news/crop-duster-crash-into-field-east-of-calipatria/609662580
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Butters+Rd+%26+E+Yocum+Rd,+Calipatria,+CA+92233/@33.1119131,-115.3716174,16z/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x80d749515ceb21d7:0xcf8fa9b22ae963e?hl=en-us
FAA
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N5022X