# NTSB FTW84LA137: Piper PA-25-150, N6090Z, Altus, OK, February 16, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 16, 1984, 10:26 local (16:26 UTC)
- Place: Altus, OK
- Coordinates: 34.639194, -99.309463 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6392&lon=-99.3095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21260
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA137
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21260/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA137

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN A WHEAT FIELD THAT WAS BEING SPRAY, THEN WAS DESTOYED BY A POST CRASH FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE PLT WAS AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN WHEN HE GLANCED INTO THE COCKPIT TO VISUALLY CHECK HOW MUCH CHEMICAL WAS REMAINING IN THE HOPPER. REPORTEDLY, THIS DISTRACTION RESULTED IN THE PLT MISJUDGING HIS CLEARANCE ABOVE THE FIELD. THE PLT WAS BADLY BURNED & DIED FROM HIS INJURIES ON 3/13/84.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N6090Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-105
- Airframe hours: 5816
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Scotty'S Dusting & Flying Ser.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 1984, 30 hours before
- Departed: OK82, ALTUS, OK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 14,000 total, 12,000 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F

## 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 19840216029159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840216029159A), Feb 16, 1984: Piper PA25150, Altus, OK, Destroyed. Flew into the ground during a spray run after looking inside cockpit to check chemical level. Died from burns.

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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