# NTSB CHI06LA223: Piper PA-25-235, N4693Y, Underwood, ND, August 3, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2006, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Underwood, ND - Coordinates: 47.353054, -101.027221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3531&lon=-101.0272&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 64303 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64303/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA223 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the power line during the aerial application flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - object - wire,transmission - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane collided with a power line during an aerial application flight. According to witnesses, the airplane was making swath runs to the north and south, and was flying to the north when it contacted the power line. Witnesses reported the airplane flew under the power line during previous passes. A 2-foot long section of the outboard portion of the right wing separated from the airplane wreckage and was located near the power lines. The height of the power line that was contacted was approximately 50 above the ground. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 3, 2006, at 1430 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N4693Y, collided with a power line during an aerial application flight in Underwood, North Dakota. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions existed and there was no flight plan filed for the flight. The flight originated from the Washburn Municipal Airport (5C8), Washburn, North Dakota, at an undetermined time. According to witnesses, the airplane was making swath runs to the north and south and was flying to the north when it contacted the power line. Witnesses reported the airplane flew under the power lines during previous passes. The accident site was located in an open field, 1-1/2 miles north of the intersection of McLean County Roads 18 and 23. A 2-foot long section of the outboard portion of the right wing separated from the airplane and was located near the power lines. The height of the power line that was contacted was approximately 50 feet above the ground. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine land airplane and instrument airplane. The pilot also held a certified flight instructor certificate with a single-engine land airplane rating. The pilot's last airman medical examination was conducted on March 21, 2006, and he was issued a second-class medical certificate. The medical certificate contained the limitation that he was required to wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) in Fargo, North Dakota, reviewed the pilot's records. According to that review, the pilot had a total of 12,482 hours of flight time, of which 81 hours were flown in the previous 90 days. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION N4693Y was a Piper PA-25-235, serial number 25-4424. The single-engine, low-wing airplane was equipped for aerial application flights. The airplane was issued a restricted airworthiness certificate on September 15, 1967. An inspector from the FAA FSDO in Fargo, North Dakota, reviewed the aircraft records. According to the records, the last aircraft inspection was an annual inspection in April 2006. The airplane had a total time of 6,261 hours and had been flown 89 hours since the last annual inspection. A 235-horsepower Lycoming O-540-B2A engine, serial number L-11314-40, powered the airplane. The last inspection on the engine was an annual inspection in April 2006. The records indicated the engine had accumulated 466 hours since it was last overhauled. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION A weather observation station located at the Bismarck Municipal Airport (BIS), Bismarck, North Dakota, about 50 statute miles southeast of the accident site, reported the weather conditions at 1452 as: wind variable at 3 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition clear, temperature 33 degrees Celsius, dew point 4 degrees Celsius, barometric pressure 29.96 inches of mercury. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy was performed on the pilot at the North Dakota Forensic Examiner's Office, Bismarck, North Dakota, on August 4, 2006. A Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report was prepared by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for the pilot. The toxicology results for the pilot were negative for all tests performed with the exception of Naproxen, which was detected in the blood sample. Naproxen is an anti-inflammatory medication available by prescription and over the counter (often known by the trade name Aleve) and used to reduce pain and inflammation. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A party to the investigation was the FAA. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4693Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4693Y), registered now, S/N 25-4424, built 1967 (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: 25-4424 - Airframe hours: 6261 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2A 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Central Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2004 - Departed: 5C8, Washburn, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review October 1, 2004; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,482 total, 81 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: BIS, 50 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 20060803022979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060803022979A), Aug 3, 2006: Piper PA25235, Underwood, ND, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On August 3rd, 2006, at 1430 central daylight time (CDT), a Piper pa 25, N4693Y, operated by a commercial pilot, was destroyed after colliding with the… ## Other investigations on N4693Y (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 CHI93DTG03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93DTG03), Aug 20, 1993: Piper PA-25-235 (N4693Y), Washburn, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power due to a magneto failure. 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.