# NTSB CEN13LA520: Piper PA-25-235, N7064Z, Boonville, MO, June 30, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2013, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Boonville, MO - Coordinates: 38.996112, -92.72528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9961&lon=-92.7253&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87947 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA520 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87947/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87947 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA520 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing on a gravel road. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis While flying, the pilot was looking for a suitable location to load the airplane for agricultural operations (the previously agreed upon location was not accessible). He was texting the ground crew to figure out options. After doing so, he made several low passes to better evaluate the road upon which he planned to land, to evaluate the wing tip clearance from the corn, and to attempt to signal the ground crew of the location change because cellular service was sporadic. The pilot stated that he made the low passes with full flaps and that he also evaluated the wing tip clearance from the corn. After the last pass and during the landing roll, he looked right to ensure that the wing would clear the corn. The airplane then veered left 180 degrees, rolled backward, and impacted terrain. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have caused the loss of directional control during the landing. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2013, about 0900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N7064Z, impacted high vegetation and terrain during a landing on a road near Boonville, Missouri. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage. The airplane was registered to co-owning individuals and was operated by Plane Cents Aviation LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The local flight originated about 0850, from the Jesse Viertel Memorial Airport (VER), near Boonville, Missouri. According to the pilot's accident report, he was flying the airplane to a designated road near the field to be fertilized. The original road was unavailable and the pilot found a "north/south gravel road" he thought was a "suitable location for operations." He sent a text message and made low passes to advise the ground crew of the change in location. The pilot stated that he also evaluated the wing tip clearance to clear the corn during the low passes. During rollout, he looked right to ensure that the wing would clear the corn. He said that he felt the airplane "veer left 180 degrees and roll backwards into the corn, coming to a quick stop." The pilot reported that he deplaned and subsequently saw a small berm between the road and the crops, which the airplane "evidently hit as it was turning." The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage on impact with the berm and corn. According to the attorney representing the pilot, they were not aware of any mechanical malfunction or failure that would have caused the loss of directional control during the landing. At 0835, the recorded wind at VER was 320 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7064Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7064Z), registered now, S/N 25-2844, built 1964 (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: 25-2844 - Airframe hours: 9583 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B2B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Plane Cents Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Kiman & Kaland Kingsley - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 2013 - Departed: Boonville, MO - Destination: Boonville, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,921 total, 1,196 in this make and model, 1,831 as pilot in command, 306 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: VER, 5 nm away ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87947. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404856&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 231 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous - Communication Summary (item 4, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Communication%20Summary-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.