# NTSB CHI99LA230: Piper PA-25-235, N4652Y, Fargo, ND, July 12, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 1999, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Fargo, ND - Coordinates: 46.869846, -96.809158 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8698&lon=-96.8092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46778 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46778/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA230 ## Probable cause the altitude/clearance not maintained by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis In a written statement, the pilot reported the following. 'I took off from my grass strip at 1050 am with 50 gallons of water containing dye. The purpose of the flight was to spray the dye while flying over the center of a string to determine the swath width and uniformity. I started my swath run about 10 ft off the ground, 1/2 mile north of the string, which was located east and west on the west end of the runway. I was about 300 ft from the string when I spotted the orange cone markers indicating a flight path over the center of the string. Attempting to line up with these cones I lowered a wing into the grain which dragged the aircraft sideways, and upon hitting the ground in this attitude the gear was torn off.' ## Factual narrative On July 12, 1999, at 1000 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N4652Y, received substantial damage on impact with terrain during a spray test swath run. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at a field one mile south of the Fargo, North Dakota city limits, at 0950 In a written statement, the pilot reported the following. "I took off from my grass strip at 1050 am with 50 gallons of water containing dye. The purpose of the flight was to spray the dye while flying over the center of a string to determine the swath width and uniformity. I started my swath run about 10 ft off the ground, 1/2 mile north of the string, which was located east and west on the west end of the runway. I was about 300 ft from the string when I spotted the orange cone markers indicating a flight path over the center of the string. Attempting to line up with these cones I lowered a wing into the grain which dragged the aircraft sideways, and upon hitting the ground in this attitude the gear was torn off." The pilot reported a total flight time of 8 hours in PA-25-235 aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4652Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4652Y), registered now, S/N 25-4372, built 1967 (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: 25-4372 - Airframe hours: 4040 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 137 - Registered owner: Fred Hector - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1999, 10 hours before - Departed: PVT - Airport: PVT, Hector, runway 9, 4,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,100 total, 8 in this make and model, 1,100 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FAR, 6 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 19990712008919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990712008919A), Jul 12, 1999: Piper PA25235, Fargo, ID, Substantial damage. During a spray test run, acft struck ground. (-23)pilot was conducting low altitude swath run to calibrate spray nozzles. Right half of spray boom caught in… ## Other investigations on N4652Y (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN15LA383](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA383), Aug 21, 2015: Piper PA 25-235 (N4652Y), Harvey, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power due to a failed magneto and two cylinders with low compression. Contributing to the accident was the pilot/owner’s decision to operate the airplane with an ongoing… 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.