# NTSB IAD79DLT05: Piper PA-25, N7260Z, Covington, TN, June 21, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 21, 1979
- Place: Covington, TN · COVINGTON, TN
- Location: 35.5659° N, 89.6485° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Covington, TN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5659&lon=-89.6485&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 31, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135727
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD79DLT05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD79DLT05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1449  79/6/21    COVINGTON,TN        PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 28, 386
        TIME - 1030                    N7260Z              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 18 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COVINGTON,TN                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 IN FLIGHT: CLEANUP SWATH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        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                                                      92
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       8
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -   18                       KIND OF OPERATION - OTHER
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  260                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- PILOT WAS FLYING UNDER POWER LINE WIRES.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7260Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7260Z-2013-02-20), registration cancelled 2013-02-20, S/N 25-3196, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (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 19790621011629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790621011629A), Jun 21, 1979: Piper PA25235, Covington, TN, Substantial damage. Attempted to fly under wires. Pilot stated acft hit downdraft. Acft hit ditch.

## Other investigations on N7260Z (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI70D0268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70D0268), Sep 25, 1969: Piper PA-25 (N7260Z), Lynnville, KY, substantial damage

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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