# NTSB FTW98LA221: Piper PA-25-260D, N9754P, Richfield, UT, May 16, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 1998, 09:38 local (15:38 UTC) - Place: Richfield, UT - Coordinates: 38.749286, -112.099395 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7493&lon=-112.0994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20607 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20607/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA221 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power; and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering for a forced landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot remembered little of the accident. Witnesses said that the pilot had been spraying a field with a 50-50 mixture of Furadan (a weed killer) and Dimate 4E. They reported hearing the engine 'cut out,' 'stall,' or 'stop.' They said the pilot 'got it started again,' then it 'cut out,' 'stalled,' or 'stopped' again. The airplane was then seen to 'dive,' 'nose dive,' or go 'straight down.' An FAA inspector examined the undamaged wing tanks and found no evidence of fuel. No fuel was detected in the gascolator, the fuel line between the gascolator and fuel pump, or the carburetor. A small amount of fuel was found in the carburetor inlet fuel line. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 1998, at 0938 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25-260D, N9754P, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during a forced landing near Richfield, Utah. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant onboard, was seriously injured. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, neither the pilot nor his company, Donair Flight Service, has been issued an aerial applicator operating certificate. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated approximately 8 minutes before the accident. According to the pilot's accident report, he remembers little of what happened. He said witnesses told him that he "had just about finished spraying a field when the wind began blowing." He left the field to return to the airport. He said witnesses told him "they thought they heard the engine running roughly. It appeared as though I made a landing in a field close to the airport when the accident occurred. About all I remember of that day was waking up that afternoon in the hospital." The pilot said he received a slight concussion and a fractured nose. According to the Sevier County Sheriff's Office report, the pilot had been spraying a field with a 50-50 mixture of Furadan (a weed killer) and Dimate 4E. Seven witness statements collected by the sheriff's office indicated the engine "cut out," "stalled," or "stopped." The pilot "got it started again," then it "cut out," "stalled," or "stopped" again. The airplane was then seen to "dive," "nose dive," or go "straight down." An FAA inspector went to the scene and examined the airplane. According to his report, the wing tanks and attached fuel lines were not damaged. When the tank drains were opened, no fuel came out. No fuel was found in the gascolator, the fuel line between the gascolator and fuel pump, or the carburetor. A small amount of fuel, however, was found in the carburetor inlet fuel line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9754P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9754P-2001-09-14), registration cancelled 2001-09-14, S/N 25-7556021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-25-260D - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-260) (registry code 7102508) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-7556021 - Airframe hours: 3468 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-G1A5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Donald Blackham - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1998, 57 hours before - Departed: RIF, RICHFIELD, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 551 total, 61 in this make and model, 480 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MLF, 60 nm away ## 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 19980516009789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980516009789A), May 16, 1998: Piper PA25260, Richfield, UT, Destroyed. Engine failed due inadequate fuel carried. On return to rif pilot tried to stretch glide resulting in a stall spin. (.4)the pilot remembered little of the… 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.