# NTSB CHI96LA194: Piper PA-25, N9844P, Cleveland, ND, June 11, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 1996, 05:35 local (10:35 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, ND - Coordinates: 46.890949, -99.1194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8909&lon=-99.1194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10272 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10272/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA194 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from trees during an aerial application operation. The wires and trees (obstructions) were related factors. ## 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 - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was trying to spray a very small area of a field, which had wires on one end and trees on the other end. He reported that after descending down to the field, the airplane 'mushed,' and he was unable to climb the airplane quick enough to clear the top of the trees. The pilot did not report any malfunction of the aircraft. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1996, at 0535 central daylight time (cdt), a Piper PA25, N9844P, was destroyed when the airplane impacted with trees at the end of a field, near Cleveland, North Dakota. The pilot was applying weed killer to the field, at the time of the accident. The commercial rated pilot was uninjured in the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in VFR conditions, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight. The pilot reported on the NTSB form 6120.1/2 that he was trying to spray a very small area of field which had wires on one end, and trees on the other end. The pilot wrote that after descending down to the field the airplane "mushed", and he was unable to climb the airplane quick enough to clear the top of the trees at the end of the field. The pilot did not list any malfunctions with the aircraft on the accident report. The airplane's right wing and right landing gear were bent back approximately 90 degrees. The fuselage was buckled between the tail and the cabin area. The engine was separated from the airframe, and the left wing was burned. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9844P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9844P), registered now, S/N 25-7556163, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-25 - 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: 25-7566163 - Airframe hours: 3925 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Olson Aerial Applications Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1996, 33 hours before - Departed: ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,688 total, 1,125 in this make and model, 1,628 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JMS, 22 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 19960611013209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960611013209A), Jun 11, 1996: Piper PA25235, Cleveland, ND, Destroyed. Aircraft entering field over trees crashed into the ground. (.4) the pilot reported that he was trying to spray a very small area of a field, which had wires… 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.