# NTSB LAX77DUM39: Piper PA-36, N57713, Calexico, CA, September 14, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: September 14, 1977
- Place: Calexico, CA · CALEXICO, CA
- Location: 32.6849° N, 115.4947° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Calexico, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6849&lon=-115.4947&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144769
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77DUM39
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77DUM39

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3363  77/9/14    CALEXICO,CA         PIPER PA-36         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 8000
        TIME - 0430                    N57713              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HEBER STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HEBER,CA                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISREGARD OF GOOD OPERATING PRACTICE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 8000                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          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 -  0                   SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- SPRAYING ASPARAGUS AT NIGHT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57713](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57713-1977-12-16), registration cancelled 1977-12-16, S/N 36-7660036 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36
- Registry model: [Piper PA-36-285](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-36-285) (registry code 7103610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Heber Strip

## 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 19770914033499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770914033499A), Sep 14, 1977: Piper PA36285, Calexico, CA, Destroyed. Spraying asparagus at night.

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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