- Date
- July 28, 1995, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Oklee, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7797ZPiper PA-25-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950728021139A
- Case key
- 9964
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 failed to maintain clearance with trees. Factors associated with the accident were the trees and the pilot's diverted attention.
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 reported that he was spraying a field and was having a problem with the automatic flagger. He had completed a pass and pulled up when he noticed something different about the flagger. He reported his attention was diverted from flying and he failed to clear trees. The airplane contacted the tops of the trees. Control of the airplane was lost and it impacted in a field. The airplane caught fire shortly after impact and burned.
Factual narrative
On July 28, 1995, at 0800 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 25-235, was destroyed by fire after it impacted with trees and subsequently hit the ground. The commercial pilot reported no injury. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight departed a private airstrip near Oklee, Minnesota, on a local flight. Visual meteorlogical conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he was spraying a field and was having a problem with the automatic flagger. He had completed a pass and had pulled up when he noticed something different about the flagger. He reported his attention was diverted from flying and he failed to clear some trees. He clipped the tops of the trees, lost control of the airplane and impacted in a field. The airplane caught fire shortly after impact and burned.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7797Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-3999
- Airframe hours
- 3,500
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Ronn N. Syverson, doing business as Aerial Applicator
- Registered owner
- No Co Ag Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 30, 1995
- Departed
- Fosston, 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
- 27
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,400 total · 150 in this make and model · 1,300 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.