# NTSB GAA19CA437: Piper PA36, N57799, Bancroft, ID, July 15, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 15, 2019, 13:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Bancroft, ID
- Coordinates: 42.800556, -111.986946 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8006&lon=-111.9869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99885
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA437
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99885/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99885
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA437

## Probable cause

The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a low-altitude turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-36-285, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103610), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight, he stalled the airplane while in a low-altitude turn. In an attempt to recover, the pilot dumped the chemicals, but the airplane continued to descend and impacted a hillside. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during an aerial application flight, he stalled the airplane while in a low altitude turn. In an attempt to recover, the pilot jettisoned the chemicals, but the airplane continued to descend and impacted the hillside. The airplane sustained substantial damage to fuselage and engine mounts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57799](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57799-2021-10-30), registration cancelled 2021-10-30, S/N 36-7660116, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA36 (285)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285) (registry code 7103610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 6-285-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-6-285-a) (registry code 17038, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 36-7660116
- Year built: 1976
- Engines: Continental 6-285-A reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Curtis E. Hill
- Registered owner: Curtis E. Hill
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KPIH, 27 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 20190715016619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190715016619A), Jul 15, 2019: Piper PA-36-285, Bancroft, ID, Destroyed. On July 15, 2015, the pilot returned with his second load to continue spraying. He reports everything was the same as when spraying the first load while low in…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99885. 362 KB in all.

- Record of Memorandum - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483877&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Memorandum%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF

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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