# NTSB DEN73DTE12: Piper PA-25, N8825L, Rocky Ford, CO, August 2, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 2, 1972
- Place: Rocky Ford, CO · ROCKY FORD, CO
- Location: 38.0499° N, 103.7221° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rocky Ford, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0499&lon=-103.7221&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 5, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 168116
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN73DTE12
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN73DTE12

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2684   72/8/2    ROCKY FORD,COLO     PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 55, 5666
        TIME - 0900                    N8825L              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 4000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MELON FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ROCKY FORD COLO             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: STARTING SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SUNGLARE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  900                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - CORN                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- GLARE FROM LIME PIT AFFECTED OBSERVATION OF WIRE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8825L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8825L-2007-01-04), registration cancelled 2007-01-04, S/N 25-5334, built 1971 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Melon Field

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.

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