# NTSB DEN88LA139: Piper PA-25-235, N9856P, Conrad, MT, June 27, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 27, 1988, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Conrad, MT
- Coordinates: 48.200851, -111.849342 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.2009&lon=-111.8493&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17488
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA139
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17488/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA139

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS MAKING A LT TURNAROUND TO BEGIN A SWATH RUN. HE SAID THE ACFT SLOWED WHILE IN A STEEP LT BANK AT THE HIGHEST PART OF THE TURN AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RAISE THE LT WING AS THE ACFT APPROACHED THE GROUND. THE LT WING AND MAIN LANDING GEAR HIT THE GROUND AND THE ACFT SLID SIDEWAYS BEFORE COMING TO REST. DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW ON THE DAY AFTER THE ACDT, THE PLT SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ACFT, HE JUST GOT TOO SLOW IN THE TURN. IN HIS WRITTEN REPORT OF THE ACDT, THE PILOT SAID HE WAS MAKING THE TURNAROUND INTO A 6 TO 8 KT WIND AND HE THOUGHT THE WIND MIGHT HAVE QUIT WHILE HE WAS IN THE TURN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9856P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9856P-1991-03-22), registration cancelled 1991-03-22, S/N 257556180 (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: 257556180
- Airframe hours: 1800
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Mellott, Thomas H.
- Registered owner: Mellott, Thomas H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1988, 84 hours before
- Departed: NONE
- Destination: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,800 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °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 19880627027359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880627027359A), Jun 27, 1988: Piper PA25235, Conrad, MT, Substantial damage. Too slow in an ag turn around. Aircraft mushed wing low and hit the ground.

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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