# Fatal NTSB investigations: Piper PA-25-235 NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports. Page 1 of 3 · 139 cases ## Latest cases - [NTSB ERA26FA214](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26FA214.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Saratoga Springs, NY · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · May 26, 2026 · N8656L · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage > On May 26, 2026, about 1347 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N8656L, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Saratoga Springs, New York. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code… - [NTSB ERA23FA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA234.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Hollywood, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · May 17, 2023 · N430AB · Destroyed > The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of aircraft control. - [NTSB ERA19FA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19FA112.md): Piper PA25 · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Mar 1, 2019 · N145AB · Destroyed > The pilot’s failure to maintain proper altitude and clearance while maneuvering during a banner tow flight, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a 19-story building in a heavily congested area. Contributing to the accident were the easterly wind… - [NTSB ERA18FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA006.md): Piper PA 25-235 · Front Royal, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 7, 2017 · N90866 · Destroyed > The tow plane pilot's loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. Contributing to the accident was the glider instructor's diversion of attention away from the tow airplane which resulted in his delay in… - [NTSB ERA17WA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17WA124.md): Piper PA25 · Villa Tapia, Dominican Republic · Accident · 1 fatal · Foreign investigation · Mar 4, 2017 · N8569L · Destroyed > On March 4, 2017, about 1330 coordinated universal time, a Piper PA-25-235, N8969L, was destroyed following a collision with antenna wires and terrain during an aerial application flight near Villa Tapia, Dominican Republic. The pilot was fatally injured. The… - [NTSB CEN13FA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13FA259.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Lamar, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 5, 2013 · N82509 · Substantial damage > The pilot's in-flight loss of control, which was likely due to a sudden cardiac event. - [NTSB ERA12FA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA130.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Jacksonville, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 31, 2011 · N7408Z · Substantial damage > The pilot's in-flight loss of control during climb after a banner pickup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to marijuana. - [NTSB CEN11LA581](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA581.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Whitewood, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 20, 2011 · N7051Z · Substantial damage > The pilot's collision with terrain for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB CEN10FA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA115.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Boulder, CO · Accident · 3 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Feb 6, 2010 · N8718L · 3 aircraft · Substantial damage > The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other resulting in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the lack of perceived visual relative motion of the Piper and the Cirrus to the pilot of each airplane, the terrain background, and the… - [NTSB WPR10FA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA068.md): Schleicher ASW-27 · Middletown, CA · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 28, 2009 · N127AL · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage > The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to yield right of way to the glider. - [NTSB ERA09LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA131.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Pensacola, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 6, 2009 · N7160Z · Substantial damage > The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed following a total loss of engine power during a low-level approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was fuel exhaustion due to the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. - [NTSB CHI08LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA124.md): Piper PA-25-235 · New Lisbon, WI · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 5, 2008 · N4352Y · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude during a course reversal at the completion of an agricultural spray run. - [NTSB LAX07LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07LA163.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Delta, UT · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 12, 2007 · N7739Z · Substantial damage > the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall and collision with terrain. - [NTSB CHI06LA223](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA223.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Underwood, ND · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 3, 2006 · N4693Y · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power line during the aerial application flight. - [NTSB ATL05LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA149.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Colquitt, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 21, 2005 · N7399Z · Substantial damage > The 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. - [NTSB LAX04LA240](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA240.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Peoria, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 13, 2004 · N4602Y · Substantial damage > the pilot's failure to maintain a proper pitch attitude during tow operations and his failure to maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. - [NTSB CHI03LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA263.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Sparta, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 13, 2003 · N8563L · Destroyed > The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the inadvertent stall/spin encountered. The inadequate fuel supply, airspeed not being maintained, low altitude, and terrain were factors to the accident. - [NTSB MIA98LA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA222.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Bainbridge, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 12, 1998 · N8654L · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in a stall. - [NTSB MIA98LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA115.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Bainbridge, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 2, 1998 · N6847Z · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack experience in this category of aircraft. An additional factor was the inadequate upgrade training provided by the company that owned the… - [NTSB LAX95LA183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA183.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Peoria, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 11, 1995 · N7403Z · Destroyed > the pilot's inflight loss of control due to his delay in releasing the glider after the towed glider experienced an unplanned altitude gain on takeoff when it encountered a dust devil. - [NTSB ATL94LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA119.md): Piper PA-25-235C · Bainbridge, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 11, 1994 · N4643Y · Substantial damage > The inadvertent stall by the pilot during practice agricultural spraying runs. - [NTSB FTW94FA191](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94FA191.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Breckenridge, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 10, 1994 · N4492Y · Destroyed > The pilot's continued VFR flight into IMC. Factors were the weather and the lack of flight instruments. - [NTSB ATL93LA121](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA121.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Bainbridge, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 2, 1993 · N8659L · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the ground. - [NTSB NYC92LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA160.md): Piper PA-25 · Wallington, OH · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 13, 1992 · N4654Y · Destroyed > Pilot incapacitation due to acute coronary insufficiency which resulted in a loss of control of the airplane and impact with the ground. - [NTSB CHI92DTK01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92DTK01.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Iroquois, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · May 18, 1992 · N4427Y · Destroyed > An improper maneuver and failure to attain level off by the pilot in command while performing aerial application. - [NTSB FTW92DPJ02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92DPJ02.md): Piper PA-25 · Warner, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Oct 10, 1991 · N8516L · Destroyed > The complete loss of engine power for undetermined reason. - [NTSB ATL91LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91LA168.md): Piper PA-25-235C · Bainbridge, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 2, 1991 · N4393Y · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from objects while practicing aerial application procedures. - [NTSB FTW90DQG04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DQG04.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Lubbock, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Aug 25, 1990 · N9852P · Destroyed > Failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed and altitude during a turn-around maneuver, which resulted in the aircraft stalling into the ground. - [NTSB DEN89DTI01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89DTI01.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Conrad, MT · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Jun 20, 1989 · N7001Z · Destroyed > The pilot's failure to see the guy wire in time to avoid colliding with it. - [NTSB MKC89DCA01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89DCA01.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Auxvasse, MO · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Jun 14, 1989 · N6579Z · Destroyed > The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, resulting in an inadvertant stall. - [NTSB FTW89DQG02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89DQG02.md): Piper PA-25 · Amarillo, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Nov 14, 1988 · N8547L · Destroyed > Failure on the part of the pilot to maintain the proper airspeed for the maneuver being performed, followed by a stall at an altitude insufficient to recover. - [NTSB BFO88DID04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88DID04.md): Piper PA-25-250 · Waverly, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Aug 25, 1988 · N8668L · Destroyed > The acft contacted pwr lines, crashed and burned during an aerial appliation flt. Witnesses reported that it looked as if the plt descended to fly under the lines when it suddenly pulled up and contacted them. - [NTSB MKC88DCD03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88DCD03.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Eldora, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Aug 8, 1988 · N9612P · Substantial damage > Pilot was spraying a bean field when a witness saw his aircraft strike the ground. The aircraft then climbed to approximately 200 feet and leveled off. It then began a gentle climb, then entered a spin and desended into the ground. Examination of the aircraft… - [NTSB DEN86FA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA022.md): Piper PA-25-235B · Holly, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 13, 1985 · N7313Z · Substantial damage > According to the plt's brother, he was on a flt to calibrate the acft's spraying equipment & to make a few practice crop spraying runs. While flying at aprx 30 ft AGL, the acft struck power lines, then crashed to the ground & burned. No preimpact part failure… - [NTSB SEA85FA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85FA208.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Wenatchee, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Sep 7, 1985 · N7340Z · Destroyed > After two application runs, plt apparently attempted to shorten the race-track pattern by initiating the inbound turn into a canyon. Acft was observed to climb clear of the canyon wall near completion of turn, but load was jettisoned at this point and the… - [NTSB FTW85FQG03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FQG03.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Morton, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Aug 29, 1985 · N4708Y · Destroyed > After the plt completed a swath run, the acft entered a rgt climbing maneuver, then rolled wings level. After that, it reportedly began an abrupt climb for aprx 50 to 60 ft, then nosed down & crashed in a steep descent. After impact, the acft was destroyed by… - [NTSB SEA85LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA152.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Burns, OR · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 27, 1985 · N6647Z · Destroyed > During aerial applications the pilot cleared a rise, got a down draft, struck trees and then stalled striking the ground with little forward motion. An intense explosion and fire followed. The fire origin was in the area of the fiberglass fuel tank. An… - [NTSB LAX85FA216](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA216.md): Piper PA25-235 · Walnut Grove, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 19, 1985 · N9636P · Destroyed > The acft flew into the ground on a procedure turnaround while spraying wheat with a toxic chemical. The acft did not stall and the engine sound did not change. A separated aileron crossover cable showed no fatigue. The cholinesterase level in the pilot's… - [NTSB DEN84FA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA219.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Peetz, CO · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 12, 1984 · N6484Z · Destroyed > Plt had completed spraying around farm buildings for insect control. On first pass in crop area, the acft was observed to pull up over pwr lines at end of swath run but collided with overhead ground wire at top of multi- wire array. Acft then collided with… - [NTSB MKC83FA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83FA177.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Bentley, KS · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 5, 1983 · N7620Z · Destroyed > The acft stalled, crashed, nosed over and burned during an aerial application maneuver. The owner of the acft was spraying the same field in another acft and saw the accident. He stated, the acft pulled up at the completion of a run, was in a turn around when… - [NTSB FTW83FA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA261.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Omega, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 4, 1983 · N6551Z · Destroyed > The plt had just completed spraying a field & was in a right turn when the right wing tip hit gently rising terrain. The owner thought that the plt might have diverted his attention while looking at a farmer's map to locate the next field. (Several similar… - [NTSB MIA82FKJ05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA82FKJ05.md): Piper PA-25 · Jay, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Aug 2, 1982 · N8921L · Destroyed > The acft stalled during a spraying operation. The plt received his private pilot's certificate approximately four months prior to the accident. He had no flt time logged in a PA-25 & no information could be found to indicate the plt had received any… - [NTSB FTW82FQG19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82FQG19.md): Piper PA-25 · Edmonson, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Jul 10, 1982 · N4979Y · Destroyed > The pilot had been spraying the field for about 1 hr and was on the last pass. The owner/flagger stated that he had warned the pilot (by using a two way radio) to watch out for a standpipe and radio antenna, and the pilot acknowledged. He reported the plane… - [NTSB ATL82DA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA062.md): Piper PA-25-235 · Griffin, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Final report · Mar 1, 1982 · N4732Y · Minor damage > The pilot was hired to perform for the filming of an agricultural spraying operation. During one of the low passes the aircraft struck two of the ground crew. The cameraman received fatal injuries. Pieces of the wooden propeller, used to drive the spray pump,… - [NTSB ATL81FID20](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FID20.md): Piper PA-25 · Sandston, VA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Sep 5, 1981 · N8633L · Destroyed - [NTSB ATL81FKQ24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FKQ24.md): Piper PA-25 · Bentonia, MS · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jul 30, 1981 · N4883Y · Destroyed - [NTSB CHI81FEV24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FEV24.md): Piper PA-25 · Olney, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jul 11, 1981 · N6531Z · Destroyed - [NTSB LAX81FUJ57](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUJ57.md): Piper PA-25 · New River, AZ · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · May 2, 1981 · N4367Y · Destroyed - [NTSB FTW80FRJ35](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FRJ35.md): Piper PA-25 · Transylvania, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Aug 23, 1980 · N8503L · Destroyed - [NTSB FTW80FQG36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FQG36.md): Piper PA-25 · Midkiff, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Aug 7, 1980 · N7284Z · Destroyed Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md?model=7102504&fatal=1&page=2 ## The whole list in SQL Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS: ```sql SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102504')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC ``` This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb?fatal=1&model=7102504 --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.