- Date
- August 3, 1992, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Karval, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8635LPiper PA-25-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 26, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920803028799A
- Case key
- 18229
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
An engine failure due to improper maintenance installation. A factor was: lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Analysis
While in low level cruise after takeoff on a aerial application flight, a mechanical loss of power occurred. The pilot conducted a forced landing on a hillside in mountainous/hilly terrain. A post impact fire destroyed the aircraft. The power loss was due to loss of engine oil as a result of improper maintenance.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8635L
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-5071
- Airframe hours
- 2,385
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-B2L5, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Neil James
- Registered owner
- Neil James
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 6, 1992 · 227 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 1,854 total · 1,315 in this make and model · 1,820 as pilot in command · 210 in the last 90 days · 150 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 135° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.