- Date
- August 29, 1985, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Morton, TX
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 minor; on the ground: 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4708YPiper PA-25-235
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850829042099A
- Case key
- 21579
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After the plt completed a swath run, the acft entered a rgt climbing maneuver, then rolled wings level. After that, it reportedly began an abrupt climb for aprx 50 to 60 ft, then nosed down & crashed in a steep descent. After impact, the acft was destroyed by fire & the plt received fatal injuries from impact, chemicals & fire. A person on the ground received minor injuries to his hands while pulling the plt from the acft. A toxicology check of the plt's blood showed an alcohol level of 0.179%. Also, marijuana was detected in an alcohol swab. No preimpact part failure or malfunction of the acft or eng was found. On the date of the plt's last medical exam (7/31/84), he certified he had 350 hrs total flt time.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4708Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-235
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-4440
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Arthur Earl Thomas
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 5, 1985
- Departed
- Morton, TX
- Destination
- Morton, TX
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Unknown
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 350 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.