# Accident 20150525006659A: Piper PA-25-260, Casselton, ND, May 25, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 25, 2015, 16:15 local time
- Place: Casselton, ND
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: WKGG
- Location: 46.8394° N, 97.1839° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8394&lon=-97.1839&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4793Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4793Y-2018-03-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-25-260 (registry code 7102508, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-260) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-260
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA090) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150525006659A

## Narrative

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

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION INVOLVING N4793Y, A PIPER PA25-260, SN: 25-470.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING TO CASSELTON REGIONAL AIRPORT AFTER CROP SPRAYING A FIELD SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT.  WHILE ON A NORTHERLY HEADING, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES AT 73 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL CAUSING THE RIGHT WING ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE CANOPY MADE CONTACT WITH THE SECOND WIRE AND WAS TORN OFF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN ROLLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND SPUN 270 DEGREES IN A CLOCKWISE ROTATION.  THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND 290FT FROM THE POWER LINE ACCORDING TO THE GROUND SCAR.  THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST FACING SOUTH IN A SOYBEAN FIELD.  THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.

THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AT THE CRASH SITE NEAR THE FUEL BLADDER.  THE FUEL BLADDER HAD TORN OPEN ON IMPACT.  THROTTLE POSITION AND MIXTURE WERE FOUND IN THE WIDE-OPEN POSITION.  PILOT INDICATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES AND THE AIRPLANE WAS ?RUNNING FINE?.  DURING THE INTERVIEW THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS ?DISTRACTED AND LOOKING DOWN AT THE FLOOR AND LOOKED UP JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE WIRE?.  HE PUSHED THE STICK HARD FORWARD AND FELT THE IMPACT WITH THE POWER LINE.  HE REMEMBERS THE AIRCRAFT ROLLING HARD RIGHT BUT DOES NOT REMEMBER ANYTHING AFTER THAT.

## 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 GAA15CA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA090), May 25, 2015: Piper PA 25-260 (N4793Y), Casselton, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to monitor the flight environment for adequate terrain/obstacle clearance, which resulted in the inflight collision with power transmission line wires.

## Other reports on N4793Y (1)

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

- [Incident 19951010043129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951010043129I), Oct 10, 1995: Piper PA25260 (N4793Y), Casselton, ND, Minor damage. Narrative: on final aerial application run, the pilot pulled up and aircraft lost power (engine shut off). Pilot made emergency landing on sunflower field.…

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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