- Date
- July 28, 2023, 11:02 local (16:02 UTC)
- Place
- Tyler, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7094ZPiper PA-25-235
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20230728008879A
- Case key
- 192748
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 improper flap position during takeoff, which resulted in degraded climb performance and a collision with terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot attempted the takeoff with the flaps in the half or first notch position. Unable to rotate during the takeoff roll, the pilot selected the full flap position, and the agricultural airplane lifted off the 2,500-ft long turf airstrip about 150 feet before the end of the runway. The airplane was unable to climb out of ground effect and contacted corn stalks that were located past the end of the runway. The airplane descended into the vegetation and came to rest nose down and upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. According to the airplane owner’s handbook, a takeoff distance of about 1,370 feet was required to clear a 50-foot obstacle with the sprayer configuration. The handbook recommended that the wing flaps be retracted at all times during takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7094Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-5052
- Built
- 1969
- Airframe hours
- 7,029
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-B2-B5, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · March 4, 2023
- Departed
- 63Y · Tyler, MN
- Airport
- 63Y · Tyler Municipal Airport, runway 32, 2,517 × 160 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 25
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 21, 2022
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,126 total · 837 in this make and model · 1,070 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- KMML, 17 nm away
- METAR
- KMML 281556Z AUTO 03008KT 10SM CLR 26/22 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP137 T02610217 PNO $=
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.