# NTSB CEN10CA410: Piper PA-25-260, N9552P, Cairo, NE, July 18, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 17, 2010, 19:15 local (Jul 18, 2010, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Cairo, NE - Coordinates: 40.922779, -98.669998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9228&lon=-98.6700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76680 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA410 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76680/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76680 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA410 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-260, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7102508), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-260, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102508), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-260, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102508), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7102508), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed from a 2,500-foot private strip on the third of four planned aerial application flights. During the takeoff the pilot noted that the wind had shifted from the northeast to the east, and was about 5 knots. Shortly after takeoff the single-engine airplane began a slow descent. The pilot attempted to correct the problem by turning into the wind while heading to lower ground; however, the airplane continued to descend until it impacted terrain. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane and that the accident could have been prevented by having a lighter load, aborting the takeoff, dumping the load just after takeoff, or dumping the load instead of making a 90-degree turn. ## Factual narrative The pilot departed from a 2,500 foot private strip on the third, of four planned aerial application flights. During the take-off the pilot noted that the wind had shifted from the northeast to the east, and was about 5 knots. Shortly after lift-off, the single-engine airplane began a slow descent. The pilot attempted to correct the problem by turning into the wind while heading to lower ground; however, the airplane continued to descent until it impacted terrain. The pilot stated that there were no pre-accident mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the accident could have been prevented by having a lighter load, aborting the take-off, dumping the load just after take-off, or dumping the load instead of making a 90-degree turn. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9552P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9552P-2017-04-04), registration cancelled 2017-04-04, S/N 25-7405666, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-260 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-260) (registry code 7102508) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-7405666 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Cairo, NE - Destination: Cairo, NE - Airport: Private airfield ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2009; seat: center; flight hours: 11,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °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 20100718041419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100718041419A), Jul 18, 2010: Piper PA-25-260, Cairo, NE, Substantial damage. The aircraft departed a private grass strip after fueling and loading 90 gallons of fertilizer. Shortly after becoming airborne, the aircraft started to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76680. 506 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335160&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.