# NTSB CHI02CA248: Piper PA-25-235, N7634Z, Ray, ND, August 14, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 14, 2002, 08:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Ray, ND - Coordinates: 48.177776, -103.642219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1778&lon=-103.6422&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Fargo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55571 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02CA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55571/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02CA248 ## Probable cause The pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane during takeoff. A factor was the tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage when the airplane stalled during takeoff and impacted the terrain. The pilot reported he had returned to the airstrip in order to fix a plugged spray nozzle. He landed on the southwest runway of the grass airstrip. Once the nozzle was fixed he departed to the northeast. He reported he departed on the northeast runway due to a construction crane located at the southwest end of the runway. He estimated he departed with a 3-4 knot tailwind. He reported, "Upon liftoff, enough airspeed was not obtained to be able to clear the tree row. Once out of ground effect, a stall occurred which may have come from a downdraft + or the possibility of a spark plug fowling while idling to fix nozzle." He reported, "Upon realizing the stall, power was pulled back + had to land in grain field." ## Factual narrative On August 14, 2002, at 0850 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N7634Z, sustained substantial damage when the airplane stalled during takeoff and impacted the terrain in a wheat field near Ray, North Dakota. The commercial pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was departing from a private grass airstrip on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he had returned to the airstrip in order to fix a plugged spray nozzle. He landed on the southwest runway of the grass airstrip. Once the nozzle was fixed he departed to the northeast. He reported he departed on the northeast runway due to a construction crane located at the southwest end of the runway. He estimated he departed with a 3-4 knot tailwind. He reported, "Upon liftoff, enough airspeed was not obtained to be able to clear the tree row. Once out of ground effect, a stall occurred which may have come from a downdraft + or the possibility of a spark plug fowling while idling to fix nozzle." He reported, "Upon realizing the stall, power was pulled back + had to land in grain field." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7634Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7634Z-2007-10-24), registration cancelled 2007-10-24, S/N 25-3766, built 1966 (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: 25-3766 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Jeffrey T. Knox - Registered owner: Jeffrey Knox - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Ray, ND - Airport: XXX, Private Airstrip, runway 050 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 2,300 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20020814021929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020814021929A), Aug 14, 2002: Piper PA25235, Williston, ND, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 14, 2002 at 9:00 am local time a PA-25-235 N7634Z, operated by a commercial pilot sustained substantial damage after stalling out on take off… ## Other investigations on N7634Z (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC77FER71](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC77FER71), Jul 30, 1977: Piper PA-25 (N7634Z), Springfield, MN, substantial damage 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.