# NTSB LAX71DUJ34: Piper PA-25, N4587Y, Rillito, AZ, September 21, 1970

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 21, 1970
- Place: Rillito, AZ · RILLITO, AZ
- Location: 32.4155° N, 111.1548° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rillito, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4155&lon=-111.1548&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1971
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 147914
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX71DUJ34
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71DUJ34

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3791  70/9/21    RILLITO,ARIZ        PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0920                    N4587Y              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 46, 13000 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 2800 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MARANA,ARIZ                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - LOCAL WHIRLWIND
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JETTISONED LOAD
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        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                                                      90
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       20
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - 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 -  2000                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ENCOUNTERED DUST DEVIL. WINDS GUSTING TO 25K. PLT PUT DIRT ON FIRE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4587Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: 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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