20030819021449A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-25-260 · Brandon, WI · August 19, 2003

Date: August 19, 2003 · 17:00 local
Place: Brandon, WI
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4346Y
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI03LA272
Reported as: Piper PA25260
Reported engine: Lycoming O540G1A5
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,700 total1,000 in this make and model250 in the last 90 days

N4346YRegistration cancelled Jan 4, 2018 · Piper PA-25-260S/N 25-4843 · Built 1968 Airframe modelPiper PA-25-260 Engine modelLycoming 0-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot had made several passes over corn field. On last pass he encountered wind shear crossing tree line. Aircraft settled into corn. Pilot was unable to regain flying speed, aircraft tumbled. Impact broke engine mounts, split fuel tank. Post-impact fire destroyed right wing.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT HAD MADE SEVERAL PASSES OVER CORN FIELD. ON LAST PASS HE ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR CROSSING TREE LINE. AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO CORN. PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN FLYING SPEED, AIRCRAFT TUMBLED. IMPACT BROKE ENGINE MOUNTS, SPLIT FUEL TANK. POST-IMPACT FIRE DESTROYED RIGHT WING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI03LA272Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBrandon, WIThe pilot failed to maintain clearance from the corn crop during an aerial application maneuver. Additional factors were the terrain induced turbulence and the corn crop.Aug 19, 2003 · Substantial damage