# NTSB CEN23LA357: Piper PA25, N8847L, Hartington, NE, August 8, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 8, 2023, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Hartington, NE
- Coordinates: 42.628493, -97.264823
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6285&lon=-97.2648&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192834
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA357
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192834/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192834
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA357

## Probable cause

The pilot’s misperception of the rising terrain resulting in a collision with crops and terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md)
- [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-25-235, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=7102504), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while he maneuvered to apply agricultural product to a field, he did not perceive a higher slope of crops before making an application pass. The airplane’s landing gear became entangled in the crops and the pilot could not power the airplane free. The airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane’s left wing and empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions contributed to the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8847L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8847L-2023-09-29), registration cancelled 2023-09-29, S/N 25-5358, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA25 (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: 25-5358
- Year built: 1971
- Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Becker Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner: Becker Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Airport: n/a
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 5, 2021; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,354 total, 238 in this make and model, 1,239 as pilot in command, 393 in the last 90 days, 229 in the last 30 days, 20 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KSUX, 42 nm away
- METAR: METAR KSUX 081752Z 26004KT 7SM CLR 27/13 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP193 T02720133 10278 20117 58004=

## 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 20230808009919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230808009919A), Aug 8, 2023: Piper PA-25-235, Hartington, NE, Substantial damage. The pilot arrived at the field, in which aerial application was scheduled to occur, located 2.3 miles northeast of Hartington municipal airport at an elevation…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192834. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16157861&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 405 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16158276&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen23la357%20photos%202-Rel.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.