20050821019109A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-25-235 · Colquitt, GA · August 21, 2005

Date: August 21, 2005 · 17:05 local
Place: Colquitt, GA
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N7399Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL05LA149
Reported as: Piper PA25235
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N7399ZRegistration cancelled Oct 24, 2017 · Piper PA-25-235S/N 25-3362 · Built 1965 Airframe modelPiper PA-25-235 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) On August 21, 2005, at 2105Z, aircraft N7399Z, model PA-25-235 was involved in an accident while conducting aerial spraying. The aircraft left wing came in contact with a tree as the pilot maneuvered the aircraft in an upward direction after the application of chemicals onto the field. This caused the PIC to lose control of the aircraft, resulting in contact with the ground. The aircraft was totally destroyed with one fatality. PIC worked 10 to 14 hours a day with no day off since June 3, 2005. This was confirmed by a witness statement from a pilot who personally knew the PIC.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON AUGUST 21, 2005, AT 2105Z, AIRCRAFT N7399Z, MODEL PA-25-235 WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL SPRAYING. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT WING CAME IN CONTACT WITH A TREE AS THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION AFTER THE APPLICATION OF CHEMICALS ONTO THE FIELD. THIS CAUSED THE PIC TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, RESULTING IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED WITH ONE FATALITY. PIC WORKED 10 TO 14 HOURS A DAY WITH NO DAY OFF SINCE JUNE 3, 2005. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY A WITNESS STATEMENT FROM A PILOT WHO PERSONALLY KNEW THE PIC.

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 ATL05LA149Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportColquitt, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain visual lookout and clearance from obstacles while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree and subsequent uncontrolled descent into the ground.Aug 21, 2005 · Substantial damage