# NTSB ATL82DA269: Piper PA 25-235, N7687Z, Ray City, GA, September 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1982, 17:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Ray City, GA
- Coordinates: 31.200504, -83.239288 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2005&lon=-83.2393&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72349
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL82DA269
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72349/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL82DA269

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application
  - carburetor heat control - disconnected (cause)
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - carburetor heat - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS SPRAYING CROPS, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SKIP AND BACKFIRE. HE DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE SWATH RUN AND CLIMB FROM THE FIELD. AT THAT TIME, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT CLIMBED AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE BEFORE GLIDING TO A NEARBY SOYBEAN FIELD. DURING THE LANDING PHASE, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT DUCTING WAS DISCONNECTED, THUS RENDERING IT INOPERATIVE. THE NEAREST WEATHER REPORTING FACILITY REPORTED THAT THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 86 AND 70 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING AT GLIDE POWER AND VISIBLE ICING AT CRUISE POWER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7687Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7687Z-1983-11-04), registration cancelled 1983-11-04, S/N 25-3841 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-3841
- Airframe hours: 2263
- Engines: LYCOMING O-520-B25C 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Michael Lang
- Registered owner: Michael Lang
- Departed: NASHVILLE, GA
- Destination: NASHVILLE, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,260 total, 685 in this make and model, 1,209 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 185 °F

## 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 19820911047879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820911047879A), Sep 11, 1982: Piper PA25235, Ray City, GA, Substantial damage. Engine quit during a spray run. Crash landed in adjacent field. No engine defects. Ideal conditions for carb ice.

## Other investigations on N7687Z (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 FTW66F0584](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW66F0584), Mar 26, 1966: Piper PA-25 (N7687Z), Okarche, OK, destroyed

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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