# NTSB FTW81DQG61: Piper PA-25, N8726L, Idalou, TX, September 8, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 8, 1981
- Place: Idalou, TX · IDALOU, TX
- Location: 33.6624° N, 101.6837° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Idalou, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6624&lon=-101.6837&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 24, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81DQG61
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DQG61

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1738   81/9/8  NR.IDALOU,TX          PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1150                    N8726L              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        31, 5360 TOTAL HOURS, 400
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ACUFF,TX                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEM
                                  SUSPECTED OR KNOWN AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1800                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT 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 -  3200                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- RUDDER STRUCK WIRE DRG SPRAY PASS UNDER PHONE LN.EMERG LNDG IN COTTON FLD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8726L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8726L-2013-05-15), registration cancelled 2013-05-15, S/N 25-5185, built 1969 (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: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810908058099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810908058099A), Sep 8, 1981: Piper PA25260, Idalou, TX, Substantial damage. Struck phone wire with rudder on ag run. Flipped over on emergency 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.