# NTSB ATL81FID20: Piper PA-25, N8633L, Sandston, VA, September 5, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 5, 1981
- Place: Sandston, VA · SANDSTON, VA
- Location: 37.5131° N, 77.3130° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sandston, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5131&lon=-77.3130&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80054
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL81FID20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL81FID20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3532   81/9/5    SANDSTON,VA         PIPER PA-25         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 44, 4100
        TIME - 1330                    N8633L              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANDSTON,VA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 4050                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - BEANS                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          CRASH BAR - INSTALLED                                    TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT                                 ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  150
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
        REMARKS- LEFT WING SPAR FAILED IN FATIGUE AT WELD POINT.WELDING NOT AUTHORIZED ON SPAR.MECHANIC UNKNOWN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8633L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8633L-1984-12-11), registration cancelled 1984-12-11, S/N 25-5068 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810905055279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810905055279A), Sep 5, 1981: Piper PA25235, Sandston, VA, Substantial damage. Main spar of left wing broke at a weld near wing root during a spray run. Wing folded. Evidence prior repair.

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.

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