- Date
- July 10, 1992, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Badger, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4704YPiper PA-25-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920710024979A
- Case key
- 15248
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 failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering at low altitude in gusty winds.
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 purpose of the flight was aerial application of an herbicide. The pilot reported during a low altitude steep turn to reverse direction, there was a sudden '...wind shear which ranged from a strong gust to calm within a period of seconds.' The pilot applied full power and leveled the wings as the airplane descended to the ground. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and post-impact fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4704Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-4435
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-B2B5, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Slater Spraying Service
- Registered owner
- Holte, James K.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 10, 1992 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- ROX · Roseau, MN
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
- 26
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 710 total · 55 in this make and model · 635 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4704Y · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.