# NTSB ATL04CA135: Piper PA-25-235, N82451, Gulf Shores, AL, June 20, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 20, 2004, 09:55 local (14:55 UTC) - Place: Gulf Shores, AL - Coordinates: 30.290277, -87.671669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2903&lon=-87.6717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59543 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04CA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59543/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04CA135 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed that resulted in a stall and the subsequent collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to the pilot, he departed the grass strip and flew two separate banner flights along the beach. After dropping the second banner off he proceeded around the pattern to land on the grass strip. On the base leg of the pattern, the pilot states "a high enough speed was not kept and the right wing stalled and 'broke out' forcing the plane to the right and into a nose down attitude". The plane impacted the trees in a nose down attitude and came to a stop upon hitting the ground. According to a witness, the airplane was seen on its base to final leg when the aircraft began going behind the tree line in a 90-degree bank and a 60-degree nose down position. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2004, about 0955 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N82451, collided with the ground while on approach to land on a grass strip near Gulf Shores, Alabama. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries; the airplane was substantially damaged. Gulf Air Advertising was operating the airplane as a towing flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The flight departed Gulf Shores, Alabama, at 0820 on June 20, 2004. According to the pilot, he departed the grass strip and flew two separate banner flights along the beach. After dropping the second banner off he proceeded around the pattern to land on the grass strip. On the base leg of the pattern, the pilot states "a high enough speed was not kept and the right wing stalled and 'broke out' forcing the plane to the right and into a nose down attitude". According to a witness, the pilot was seen on its base to final leg when the airplane began going behind the tree line in a 90-degree bank and a 60-degree nose down position. The plane collided with trees in a nose down attitude and came to a stop upon hitting the ground. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82451](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82451-2005-05-24), registration cancelled 2005-05-24, S/N 25-7756018, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-7756018 - Airframe hours: 2330 - Engines: Lycoming 0S40-B2C5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 16, 2004, 10 hours before - Departed: PVT, GULF SHORES, AL - Destination: PVT, GULF SHORES, AL - Airport: PVT, Norton Field, runway 36, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 21, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 1,205 total, 558 in this make and model, 1,122 as pilot in command, 487 in the last 90 days, 208 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KNPA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040620010569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040620010569A), Jun 20, 2004: Piper PA25235, Gulf Shores, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) While turning from base leg to final leg of landing approach, pilot in command allowed airplane to stall with insufficient altitude to recover. 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. --- 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.