# NTSB FTW76FRD14: Piper PA-25, N8791L, Opelousas, LA, October 22, 1975

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 22, 1975
- Place: Opelousas, LA · OPELOUSAS, LA
- Location: 30.5249° N, 92.0817° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Opelousas, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5249&lon=-92.0817&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1975
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 151253
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW76FRD14
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76FRD14

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3014  75/10/22   OPELOUSAS,LA        PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1830                    N8791L              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 28, 5404 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            550 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ST.LANDRY PARISH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OPELOUSAS,LA                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: RETURN TO STRIP
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           POWERPLANT - IGNITION SYSTEM: SPARK PLUG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CARBON DEPOSITS
           MISCELLANEOUS - FOREIGN MATERIAL AFFECTING NORMAL OPERATIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL CONTAMINATION-EXCLUSIVE OF WATER IN FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS - EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID COLLISION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  550                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  73
        REMARKS- LOWER PLUGS FOULED,SAND PARTICLES IN FUEL. PLT HAD TO AVOID TREES ON FINAL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8791L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8791L), registered now, S/N 25-5278, built 1970 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: St.Landry Parish

## 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 19751022033909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19751022033909A), Oct 22, 1975: Piper PA25235, Opelousas, LA, Substantial damage. Lower plugs fouled,sand particles in fuel. Plt had to avoid trees on final.

## Other investigations on N8791L (2)

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 FTW76FRD66](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76FRD66), Sep 6, 1976: Piper PA-25 (N8791L), Port Barre, LA, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW74DRJ37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74DRJ37), Jun 21, 1974: Piper PA-25 (N8791L), Collinston, LA, substantial damage

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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