# NTSB FTW74FQG18: Piper PA-25, N4990Y, Post, TX, October 18, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 18, 1973
- Place: Post, TX · POST, TX
- Location: 33.1909° N, 101.3815° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Post, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1909&lon=-101.3815&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187786
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW74FQG18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74FQG18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4148  73/10/18 NR.POST,TEX           PIPER PA-25         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1430                    N4990Y              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 34, 7500 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            3000 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SLATON,TEX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: PULLUP FROM SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNAPPROVED MODIFICATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - NOT AVAILABLE
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  2500                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FATIGUE CRACK INITIATD AT IMPROPRLY DRILLD RIVT HOLE.EVIDENCE OF OVRHEAT OF SPAR TO STRAIGHTEN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4990Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4990Y-1973-12-18), registration cancelled 1973-12-18, S/N 25-4800 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19731018035549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731018035549A), Oct 18, 1973: Piper PA25235, Post, TX, Destroyed. Fatigue crack initiatd at improprly drilld rivt hole. Evidence of ovrheat of spar to straighten.

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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