# NTSB CHI90DER05: Piper PA-25-235, N82521, Ulen, MN, August 6, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 5, 1990, 19:22 local (Aug 6, 1990, 00:22 UTC)
- Place: Ulen, MN
- Coordinates: 47.069766, -96.250434 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0698&lon=-96.2504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 21, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14489
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90DER05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14489/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90DER05

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT TO AVOID THE INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A STALL/SPIN AT LOW ALTITUDE WHICH RESULTED IN IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO OBSERVE CROP DEVELOPMENT. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED AT A LOW ALTITUDE. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT DOES NOT RECALL THE EXACT REASON FOR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE LAST THING HE REMEMBERS WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. A WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING WING AND NOSE DOWN INTO THE TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NOTHING OF A MECHANICAL NATURE THAT WOULD HAVE HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N82521](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82521-1993-06-16), registration cancelled 1993-06-16, S/N 257756053 (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: 25-7756053
- Airframe hours: 4160
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-GIA5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Sbh A/C Partnership
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 11, 1990
- Departed: ULEN, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, expired; seat: center; flight hours: 377 total, 28 in this make and model, 317 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19900805030359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900805030359A), Aug 5, 1990: Piper PA25235, Ulen, MN, Substantial damage. Indicates fuel exhaustion stall and spin. Impacted vertically. Aircraft not airworthy. Engine not for aircraft type.

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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