# Accident 19950603018979A: Piper PA25235, Dawson, MN, June 3, 1995

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 3, 1995, 12:30 local time
- Place: Dawson, MN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 44.9191° N, 96.0395° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9191&lon=-96.0395&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4428P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4428P) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-25-235 (registry code 7102504, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (registry code 42337, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-b2b5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA25235
- Reported engine: LYC O540B2B5
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 900 total, 600 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI95LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA172) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950603018979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TAKEOFF DUE TO TALL GRASS. RUNWAY CLOSED DUE BROKEN ASPHALT. COLLAPSED LANDING GEAR. (-23) THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE BY TRUCK, TO B & D AVIATION AT MADISON, MN, BEFORE THE INVESTIGATING INSPECTOR ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THE PILOT, MR. LEE, MET THE INVESTIGATING INSPECTOR AT THE ACCIDENT SCEND, AND EXPLAINED THE ACCIDENT AS FOLLOW: HE ACKNOWLEDGED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL LOST DURING TAKEOFF DUE TO LONG GRASS. HE JUST FINISHED SPRAYING A FIELD, AND LANDED TO PICK UP CHEMICALS AT THE CLOSED DAWSON, MN AIRPORT. HE LANDED ON THE GRASS NEXT TO THE TAR STRIP, THAT WAS FORMERLY THE DAWSON, MN AIRPORT. THE TAR STRIP WAS IN POOR SHAPE AND NOT USABLE FOR TAKEOFF OR LANDING. HE PICKED UP HERBICIDE (LV4) FOR SPRAYING AND PUT THE BOX IN THE HOPPER UNMIXED. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF TOWARDS THE SOUTH FROM THE GRASS (ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TAR STRIP), THE RIGHT SPRAY BOOM CAUGHT IN TALL GRASS, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR SUBSEQUENTLY COLLAPSED, RESULTING IN THE LEFT WING AND PROP CONTACTING THE GROUND. HE INTENDED TO FLY TO MADISON, MN. MR. LEE REPORTED HE WAS NOT INJURED. PICT                                     URES OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE WERE TAKEN BY THE LAC QUI PARLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THEY WERE REQUESTED TO, AND SENT COPIES OF THE PICTURES TO THE MSP FSDO. AIRCRAFT DAMAGE INCLUDED BUT NECESSARILY LIMITED TO: LEFT WING, PROP, RIGHT HYDRASORB, LANDING GEAR.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI95LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA172), Jun 3, 1995: Piper PA-25-235 (N4428P), Dawson, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane on takeoff. A factor in the accident was the tall grass.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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