# NTSB FTW81FQG58: Piper PA-36, N59682, Gruver, TX, August 25, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 25, 1981
- Place: Gruver, TX · GRUVER, TX
- Location: 36.2605° N, 101.4071° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gruver, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2605&lon=-101.4071&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 28, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123936
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FQG58
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FQG58

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2560  81/8/25  NR.GRUVER,TX          PIPER PA-36         CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2030                    N59682              PX-  0  1  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 29, 6000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            240 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         GRUVER,TX                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          170                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2500                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    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 -  3440                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - SECOND 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- D/A APRX 5000FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59682](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59682-1982-12-03), registration cancelled 1982-12-03, S/N 36-7760095 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36
- Registry model: [Piper PA-36-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-300) (registry code 7103612) (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 19810825057419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810825057419A), Aug 25, 1981: Piper PA36300, Gruver, TX, Substantial damage. Flew into tall corn during a spray run over the cornfield. Misjudged height above crop.

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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