# Accident 20040522010249A: Piper PA25235, Flager, CO, May 22, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 22, 2004, 10:30 local time
- Place: Flager, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 39.2750° N, 104.0717° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2750&lon=-104.0717&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8586L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8586L-2006-09-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-25-235 (registry code 7102504, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA25235
- Reported engine: LYC O540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 7,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN04CA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA073) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040522010249A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON THE MORNING OF 22 MAY 2004, PILOT RONALD SEELHOFF, WAS CONDUCTING AN AERIAL SPRAYING OPERATION 15 MILES SOUTH OF FLAGLER COLORADO. MR. SEELHOFF HAD CONDUCTED 5 PREVIOUS SPRAY SORTIES THAT MORNING WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON THE SIXTH SPRAY RUN, WHILE PULLING UP OUT OF THE FIELD AT ABOUT 300' AGL, THE ENGINE QUIT. MR. SEELHOFF STATED HE LEVELED THE WINGS, PUT THE NOSE DOWN, SELECTED AN AREA TO LAND, AND ATTEMPTED TO FLARE JUST BEFORE LANDING BUT THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO COME UP PRIOR TO HITTING THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, RIGHT LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY, AND PROPELLER. IN THE COURSE OF A PHONE INTERVIEW WITH MR. SEELHOFF HE STATED THAT HE HAD FUELED THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE THIRD SORTIE THAT MORNING AND WAS PLANNING TO REFUEL AGAIN AFTER THE SIXTH SORTIE. MR. SEELHOFF ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL SIGHT GLASS GAUGE ON THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS INDICATING ABOUT 10 GALLONS REMAINING IN THE TANK AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 DEN04CA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA073), May 22, 2004: Piper PA-25-235 (N8586L), Flagler, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. Factors contributing to the accident were the low altitude, low airspeed, and the…

## Other reports on N8586L (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19810402015909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810402015909A), Apr 2, 1981: Piper PA25235 (N8586L), Norton, KS, Substantial damage. Engine quit on takeoff climb. Tried to return. Crash-landed short of runway. Cause engine out unknown.
- [Accident 19730802023069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730802023069A), Aug 2, 1973: Piper PA25235 (N8586L), Goshen, ID, Destroyed

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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