# NTSB CEN25LA218: Piper PA-36-375, N6174A, Huron, SD, June 19, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 19, 2025, 09:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Huron, SD · 44.336183, -98.320925 - Coordinates: 44.336183, -98.320925 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3362&lon=-98.3209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 200377 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA218 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200377/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200377 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA218 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a low-level aerial application, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control at too low of an altitude to recover. ## 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-36-375, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7103620), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-375, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7103620), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-375, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7103620), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/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-36-375, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103620), [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-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-375, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103620), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-375, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7103620), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that she was practicing a low-level aerial application flight of applying water to a field. During the third pass, she pushed the spray lever forward and inadvertently pushed the dump lever with her knuckles, which opened the gate to the hopper. She closed the gate and continued spraying, then climbed out of the field. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall during the climb and the pilot applied full power; however, the airplane continued to stall at a low altitude and landed hard in a field. The airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the airplane was equipped with a stall warning system. She further reported that she obtained her aerial application airplane operation logbook endorsement 36 days before the accident date. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6174A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6174A), registered now, S/N 36-8102016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36-375 - Registry model: [Piper PA-36-375](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-375) (registry code 7103620) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-720 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-720-series) (registry code 41546, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 36-8102016 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 6298 - Engines: Lycoming IO-720-D1CD 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Dakota Air Spray LLC - Registered owner: Dakota Air Spray LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 6, 2025 - Departed: HON, Huron, SD - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 19, 2024; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 612.4 total, 8.6 in this make and model, 566.2 as pilot in command, 52.6 in the last 90 days, 12.9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KHON, 2 nm away - METAR: KHON 191455Z AUTO 20009KT 10SM CLR 27/16 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP109 T02670161 58006 ## 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 20250619006009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250619006009A), Jun 19, 2025: Piper PA-36-375, Huron, SD, Destroyed. Statement from pilot - I went out to practice spraying a field with water in nxxxxx. I did two laps around the field, then came around to purge the booms… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200377. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 315 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19164732&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18917104&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20-%20Pilot%20statement-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18917138&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photo-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.