# NTSB ATL94LA119: Piper PA-25-235C, N4643Y, Bainbridge, GA, June 11, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 1994, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Bainbridge, GA - Location: 30.9049° N, 84.5730° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bainbridge, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9049&lon=-84.5730&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, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3400 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3400/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA119 ## Probable cause The inadvertent stall by the pilot during practice agricultural spraying runs. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PILOT DEPARTED THE LOCAL AIRPORT ON A SOLO TRAINING FLIGHT TO PRACTICE AERIAL AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING TECHNIQUES. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT THE END OF THE PRACTICE FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT PROPELLER SHOWED SIGNS OF CHORDWISE SCRATCHING AND TWISTING TOWARD LOW PITCH, AND THERE WAS CONTINUITY OF THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE AIRCRAFT LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS HAD EXTENSIVE LEADING EDGE CHORDWISE CRUSHING, FROM THE WING ROOTS TO THE WING TIPS. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1994, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235C, N4643Y, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during agricultural flight training near Bainbridge, Georgia. The commercial pilot was fatally injured in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Harrell's Aviation Service of Bainbridge, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local training flight. The flight departed Bainbridge, Georgia about 0915. The pilot departed the local airport on a solo training flight to practice aerial application techniques. There were no witnesses to the accident. However, the operator of the flight training center stated that observers to the crash site believed that it was a stall/spin accident, and that the airplane "landed inverted very hard." The aircraft was located at the end of the practice spraying field. There was continuity of the aircraft flight controls into the cockpit area. The leading edge of both wings exhibited chordwise crushing damage. The propeller blades had chordwise scratching, and they were twisted toward low pitch. A post mortem examination of the pilot was conducted by Dr. Hanzlick of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory. Dr. Hanzlick stated that the cause of death was blunt force trauma received in the accident. A toxicological examination of the pilot was conducted by the FAA Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory. The report of that examination stated that no carboxyhemoglobin, cyanide, nor any drugs were detected. A petroleum mixture was detected in gastric contents. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4643Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4643Y-1995-05-04), registration cancelled 1995-05-04, S/N 254363 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235C - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-4363 - Airframe hours: 6901 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B2B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Harrell'S Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 1994, 81 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 395 total, 18 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940611015049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940611015049A), Jun 11, 1994: Piper PA25235, Bainbridge, GA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Crashed during practice aerial application techniques. Stalled rolled. Crashed inverted. Ag appliction trainee. 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.