# NTSB CEN11LA405: Piper PA-25-235, N7018Z, Faith, SD, June 18, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 18, 2011, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Faith, SD - Coordinates: 45.036109, -102.019721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0361&lon=-102.0197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 80826 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA405 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80826/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80826 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA405 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper turn while maneuvering during an agricultural application flight, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall at low altitude. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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-25-235, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102504), [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. - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis After completing an agricultural spray run, the pilot attempted to make a tight, climbing turn without extending out over an adjacent river bank. As he started the climbing turn, the airplane stalled and there was not enough altitude to recover. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. The river bank was about 250 feet above the height of the field. The pilot stated that there were no problems with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He commented that making a wider turn, outside of the river bank, might have prevented the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2011, about 0730 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N7018Z, was substantially damage during an in-flight collision with terrain near Faith, South Dakota. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight departed Faith Municipal Airport (D07) about 0700. The pilot reported that after completing an agricultural spray run he thought he could turn around without extending out over an adjacent river bank. As he climbed to initiate the turn, the airplane began to stall. There was not enough altitude to recover and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. He commented that the river bank was about 250 feet above the height of the field, and that the wind may have changed due to the terrain. He stated that there were no problems with the airplane prior to the accident. He added that making a wider turn, outside of the river bank, might have prevented the accident. The wind at D07, located about 15 miles northwest of the accident site, at 0656, was from 190 degrees at 13 knots. At 0756, the wind was from 160 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 17 knots. The pilot reported a south wind at 13 knots and no wind gusts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7018Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7018Z-2018-03-02), registration cancelled 2018-03-02, S/N 25-2773 (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) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-2773 - Airframe hours: 2711 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2011 - Departed: D07, Faith, SD - Destination: D07, Faith, SD - Airport: D07, Faith Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: single; flight hours: 1,000 total, 85 in this make and model, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: D07, 15 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 20110618011899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110618011899A), Jun 18, 2011: Piper PA-25-235, Faith, SD, Substantial damage. This accident occurred on June 18, 2011 about 15 miles north of Faith, SD at about 0730 MDT. The pilot was conducting aerial application when the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N7018Z (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 UNK64X3068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3068), Jul 27, 1964: Piper PA25 (N7018Z), Mclean, NE, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80826. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 975 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351610&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Conversation Record -- Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351620&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Conversation Record -- FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351677&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conversation%20Record%20--%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.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.