# NTSB CHI06CA216: Piper PA-25, N7587Z, Minot, ND, August 5, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2006, 21:35 local (Aug 5, 2006, 02:35 UTC) - Place: Minot, ND - Coordinates: 48.599998, -101.333335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.6000&lon=-101.3333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 64333 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64333/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA216 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel calculations and the low airspeed which resulted in the pilot stalling the airplane. A factor was the car on the road which prevented the pilot from landing on the road. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing - airspeed - low, pilot in command (cause) - stall - encountered, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The agricultural spray airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain after a loss of control during a forced landing. The pilot reported that he had about two hours of fuel on board the airplane when he departed to spray a field. He was returning to his private airstrip about 1.5 hours after departure when the engine lost power. He attempted a forced landing to a gravel road, but a car was approaching so he changed directions to avoid any traffic on the ground. He reported that the stall warning light illuminated while he was in a left bank. He reported, "I started to flare about 50 ft. above the ground and the plane stalled dropping the left wing before impact." The inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were empty. ## Factual narrative The agricultural spray airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain after a loss of control during a forced landing. The pilot reported that he had about two hours of fuel on board the airplane when he departed to spray a field. He was returning to his private airstrip about 1.5 hours after departure when the engine quit. He attempted a forced landing to a gravel road, but a car was approaching so he changed directions to avoid any traffic on the ground. He reported that the stall warning light illuminated while he was in a left bank. He reported, "I started to flare about 50 ft. above the ground and the plane stalled dropping the left wing before impact." The inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were empty. The pilot reported that he had made the same trip three times earlier with the same amount of fuel. He reported that the "fuel gauge was cloudy." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7587Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7587Z-2013-08-27), registration cancelled 2013-08-27, S/N 25-3666, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-25 - 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: 25-3666 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Nelson Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Lansford, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 7,500 total, 260 in this make and model, 78 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## 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 20060804021219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060804021219A), Aug 4, 2006: Piper PA25235, Glenburn, ND, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot finished spraying, was enroute to home base, engine quit. Attempted to land on county road, approaching traffic prohibited landing. Attempted turn… ## Other investigations on N7587Z (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 FTW76AQG22](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76AQG22), Aug 30, 1975: Piper PA-25 (N7587Z), Slaton, TX, 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.