# NTSB DEN87DTE05: Piper PA-25-235, N6796Z, Center, CO, September 4, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1987, 10:22 local (16:22 UTC)
- Place: Center, CO
- Coordinates: 37.750019, -106.110557 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7500&lon=-106.1106&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17067
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87DTE05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17067/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87DTE05

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - frozen (cause)
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - burned (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG LOST POWER WHILE THE ACFT WAS EN ROUTE TO SPRAY A FIELD. THERE WAS NO SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING AND THE PLT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN A SOFT, CULTIVATED FIELD AND NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENG REVEALED BURNED AND STUCK INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6796Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6796Z-1990-01-29), registration cancelled 1990-01-29, S/N 252441 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-2441
- Airframe hours: 1106
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Leach Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 1987, 80 hours before
- Departed: 1V8, CENTER, CO
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 17,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 16,050 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19870904050229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870904050229A), Sep 4, 1987: Piper PA25235, Center, CO, Destroyed. Engine quit en route for spraying operations. Crashed in a field. Aircraft destroyed. Found two stuck valves.

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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