# NTSB FTW80FQG35: Piper PA-25, N8561L, Dumas, TX, August 2, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 2, 1980
- Place: Dumas, TX · DUMAS, TX
- Location: 35.8620° N, 101.9650° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Dumas, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8620&lon=-101.9650&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129286
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80FQG35
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80FQG35

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3345   80/8/2    DUMAS,TX            PIPER PA-25         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 58, 40000
        TIME - 0900                    N8561L              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DUMAS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DUMAS,TX                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: PULLUP FROM SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: OTHER
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: SPARS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2500                       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 - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  3700                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - ENTRY TO PROCEDURE TURN
        REMARKS- L WING SPAR FAILED WHERE LWR FLANGE WAS MISDRILLED.MDFYD W METAL WING IAW STC-SA501SW & REV NO 4.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8561L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8561L-2002-01-29), registration cancelled 2002-01-29, S/N 25-4983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-260) (registry code 7102508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Dumas

## 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 19800802034239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800802034239A), Aug 2, 1980: Piper PA25235, Dumas, TX, Destroyed. Left wing separated in flight. Found misaligned holes drilled in spar during conversion to metal wing caused failure

## Other investigations on N8561L (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 FTW99LA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA187), Jul 8, 1999: Piper PA-25-260 (N8561L), Wallis, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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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