- Date
- September 2, 1991, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Bainbridge, GA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4393YPiper PA-25-235C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 23, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910902037619A
- Case key
- 8465
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from objects while practicing aerial application procedures.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was practicing aerial application procedures when he misjudged his clearance and collided with trees. Examination of the accident site disclosed that the pilot had touched down about 45 feet prior to colliding with the trees. The airplane flipped inverted and burned during the crash sequence. Examination of the airplane failed to reveal mechanical or system malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4393Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-235C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-4904
- Airframe hours
- 5,082
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-B2B5, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Harrell'S Aviation Serv., Inc.
- Registered owner
- Harrell'S Aviation Serv., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 8, 1991 · 45 hours before
- Departed
- BGE · Bainbridge, GA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 26
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 300 total · 5 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABY, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.