# Accident 20090803016529A: Piper PA25235, Royal, IA, August 3, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 3, 2009, 08:25 local time
- Place: Royal, IA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: PMCG
- Location: 43.0600° N, 95.8000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0600&lon=-95.8000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6701Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6701Z) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,700 total, 350 in this make and model, 600 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA483](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA483) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090803016529A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  PILOT WAS COMMENCING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD 39 GALLONS OF FUEL AND 104 GALLONS OF CHEMICAL.  PILOT REPORT SHOWS AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT.  ASOS WEATHER WAS CALLING WINDS AT 5 M.P.H. AT 300 DEGREES, THE TEMPERATURE WAS 19 DEGREES CELSIUS.  1/2 MILE FROM THE FIELD THE PILOT BEGAN HIS DESCENT AT 90 M.P.H. FOR HIS INITIAL SPRAY PASS.  THE PILOT BEGAN DISPENSING CHEMICAL AND BEGAN TO LEVEL OFF FOR HIS SPRAY RUN.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FELT THE WINGS BEGIN TO TAKE THE LOAD AND THEN LOOSE LIFT.  HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND INTO THE CORN FIELD.  HE WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT USING THE ELEVATOR.  THE PILOT COMMENTED THAT HE FELT THE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF HE HAD BEGUN LEVELING THE AIRCRAFT SOONER.

## 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 CEN09CA483](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA483), Aug 3, 2009: Piper PA-25-235 (N6701Z), Royal, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the crop during an aerial application maneuver.

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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