- Date
- August 22, 1991, 19:30 local (Aug 23, 1991, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Stapleton, NE
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Uncontrolled descent
- Aircraft
- N6070ZPiper PA-25-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 24, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910822036859A
- Case key
- 14806
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's disregard for aircraft performance data. Related factors are the pilot's poor weather evaluation, and delayed remedial action.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated the preflight, engine run up and takeoff roll were normal. After lift off, the aircraft developed a sink rate and descended into the ground. The pilot reported he, 'lost lift and was just along for the ride.' He stated this occurred to him before in warm weather, and reported there was no loss of engine power. The aircraft was within weight and balance limitations. Density altitude was computed to be 5500 feet and there were thunderstorms and shifting winds reported in the area.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6070Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-81
- Airframe hours
- 3,060
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Dennis J. And Trudy Brosius
- Registered owner
- Dennis J. And Trudy Brosius
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 10, 1990 · 80 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 2,155 total · 252 in this make and model · 2,100 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LBF, 19 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.