# NTSB CHI93LA251: Piper PA-25-235, N8906L, Clarence, MO, July 12, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 1993, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Clarence, MO - Coordinates: 39.740459, -92.26062 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7405&lon=-92.2606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9235 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9235/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA251 ## Probable cause IS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD TO BE SPRAYED. ## 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 - tree(s) (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis AFTER SURVEYING FIELD FOR OBSTACLES, THE PILOT COMPLETED AN AG RUN ABOUT 105 MILES PER HOUR. THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO SHUT OFF THE SPRAY BOOMS BEFORE THE REQUIRED CHANGE IN ATTITUDE TO EXIT THE FIELD WAS MADE. WHILE LOOKING OVER THE RIGHT WING ROOT TO BE SURE THAT A TREE HAD BEEN CLEARED, SO HE WAS ABLE TO START AN AG-TURN, THE PILOT HEARD 'A SOUND SIMILAR TO A SAW BLADE IN A SAW MILL.' HE LOOKED FORWARD TO FIND THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES OF THE TREE HE THOUGHT HE HAD CLEARED BY 10 FEET OR MORE BEING SLUNG FROM THE PROPELLER. THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR, HOPPER, COWLING, PROPELLER, WINGS AND BOTTOM SKIN WERE DAMAGED AS THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP IN A PEA FIELD DURING A CONTROLLED CRASH LANDING. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 1993, about 1000 central daylight time, a Piper, PA-25-235; N8906L, sustained substantial damage when it struck a tree and subsequently crashed into a field during an aerial application flight near Clarence, Missouri. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 137 in visual meteorological conditions. The private pilot received minor injuries. The pilot was spraying an herbicide during an aerial application flight in Clarence, Missouri. Having just completed two "clean- up" passes in an adjacent field, the pilot proceeded to his target field. After circling the field to look for obstacles, the pilot completed a west to east run. The airplane turned and set up for an east-west pass. Lining up with his flagman and the tallest tree in the tree line along the west end of the field, the pilot proceeded to make a standard 900 yard ag run. The pilot completed the pass at approximately 105 miles per hour, shut off the spray booms before the required change in attitude to exit the field was made. While looking over the right wing root to be sure the tree had been cleared, so he was able to start an ag-turn, the pilot heard " a sound similar to a saw blade in a saw mill." He looked forward to find "foreign matter' being slung from the propeller. This foreign matter was the branches and leaves of the tree he thought he had cleared by 10 feet or more. The pilot attempted to control a chemical leak from the boom, to no avail, and made a controlled forced landing in the field. The aircraft's landing gear, hopper, cowling, propeller, wings and bottom skin were all damaged as the aircraft slid to a stop in the pea field. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8906L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8906L-2012-02-10), registration cancelled 2012-02-10, S/N 25-5367, built 1971 (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: 25-5367 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B2C5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Rufener Spraying Service - Registered owner: Mid-Continent Aircraft Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1992 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 357 total, 357 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IRK, 25 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 19930712023189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930712023189A), Jul 12, 1993: Piper PA25235, Clarence, MO, Substantial damage. Struck tree top on end of swath run. Turned left. Landed in field. Appears pilot error on crash landing. 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.