# NTSB CHI00LA151: Piper PA-25-235, N8515L, Maddock, ND, June 7, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 7, 2000, 11:38 local (16:38 UTC)
- Place: Maddock, ND
- Coordinates: 47.959156, -99.520721 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9592&lon=-99.5207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report October 9, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49427
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49427/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA151

## Probable cause

Aircraft control not being maintained by the pilot.  Factors to the accident were the turbulent weather condition, the inadvertent stall, and the inadequate weather evaluation by the pilot.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Fire/explosion

## Analysis

The aircraft was conducting an aerial application mission when the aircraft encountered "dead air" during a turn following the completion of a spray-run. The pilot reported that the aircraft stalled, impacting the terrain.  The pilot stated that after he evacuated the airplane it exploded and was consumed in a post-accident fire.  The pilot reported that the weather conditions were getting turbulent and he should have terminated the aerial application flights earlier in the day.

## Factual narrative

On June 7, 2000, at 1138 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N8515L, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with terrain and subsequent ground-fire while conducting an aerial application mission near Maddock, North Dakota.  Visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.  The local flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 and was not on a flight plan.  The pilot reported serious injuries.  The flight departed a private airstrip near Maddock, North Dakota, at exact time unknown.

According to an interview with the pilot, conducted by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration Fargo Flight Standards District Office, he was conducting an aerial application mission when the aircraft encountered "dead air" during a turn following the completion of a spray-run. The pilot reported that the aircraft stalled, impacting the terrain.  The pilot stated that after he evacuated the airplane it exploded and was consumed in a post-accident fire. The pilot reported that the weather conditions were getting turbulent and he should have terminated the aerial application flights earlier in the day.

According to an annotation to a diagram provided by the pilot, "Run into turbulins [turbulence] and plane stalled crashed here".

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8515L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8515L-2000-11-09), registration cancelled 2000-11-09, S/N 25-4932 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-4932
- Engines: Lycoming O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Sabbe Brothers Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2000
- Departed: NA38, ND

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 9,910 total, 7,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 169 °F, dew point 133 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DVL, 23 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 20000607036879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000607036879A), Jun 7, 2000: Piper PA25235, Maddock, ND, No damage. (-23) On June 7, 2000 at 11:15 local time a Piper PA-25-235 registered to sabbe brothers flying services crashed during a turn while performing aerial…

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.

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