# NTSB FTW70D0054: Piper PA-25, N6243Z, Sterling City, TX, June 17, 1969

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 17, 1969
- Place: Sterling City, TX · STERLING CITY, TX
- Location: 31.8392° N, 100.9859° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sterling City, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8392&lon=-100.9859&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 8, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 174853
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW70D0054
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW70D0054

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1782  69/6/17    STERLING CITY,TEX   PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 44, 1000
        TIME - 1700                    N6243Z              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 500 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: MAIN GEAR-SHOCK ABSORBING ASSY,STRUTS,ATTACHMENTS,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PREVIOUS DAMAGE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  500                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - MESQUITE                                  TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT
        REMARKS- L SHOCK STRUT FAILED AT THE BOTTOM FITTING. EXAMINATION REVEALED PREVIOUS BREAK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6243Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6243Z-1971-03-04), registration cancelled 1971-03-04, S/N 25298 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25) (registry code 7102502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## Other investigations on N6243Z (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 FTW71DRG21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71DRG21), Aug 25, 1970: Piper PA-25 (N6243Z), Mason, TX, destroyed

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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