# Accident 20230808009919A: Piper PA-25-235, Hartington, NE, August 8, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 8, 2023, 14:00 local time
- Place: Hartington, NE
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: PTNG
- Location: 42.6285° N, 97.2648° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6285&lon=-97.2648&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8847L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8847L-2023-09-29) (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 PA-25-235
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,382 total, 238 in this make and model, 356 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA357) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230808009919A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT ARRIVED AT THE FIELD, IN WHICH AERIAL APPLICATION WAS SCHEDULED TO OCCUR, LOCATED 2.3 MILES NORTHEAST OF HARTINGTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AT AN ELEVATION OF 1342 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE PILOT HAD MADE A LOW RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT AROUND THE FIELD, PRIOR TO MAKING HIS FIRST PASS, TO IDENTIFY FLIGHT HAZARDS. ONCE SET UP ON THE FIRST RUN IN THE FIELD FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, THE PILOT OVERFLEW POWER LINES AND DESCENDED TO AN APPLICATION ALTITUDE. FROM THE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT HAD STATED THAT HE DID NOT NOTICE THE RISE IN ELEVATION OF THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT DESCENDED THE LANDING GEAR OF THE AIRPLANE INTO THE BEAN CROP CAUSING A CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN.

THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AT A LOW ANGLE, LOW VELOCITY. THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED ABOUT 320 FEET FROM THE INITIAL CONTACT TO THE RESTING SITE. THE AIRPLANE MAINLY INTACT WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PROPELLER WAS BENT AFT WARDS WITH A TWIST AND CHORDWISE SCRATCHING. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR WAS DETACHED AND FOUND NEAR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. THE LEFT WING AND EMPENNAGE SUFFERED COMPRESSION DAMAGE.

## 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 CEN23LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA357), Aug 8, 2023: Piper PA25 (N8847L), Hartington, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s misperception of the rising terrain resulting in a collision with crops and terrain.

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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