# NTSB LAX78DUG05: Piper PA-25, N6947Z, Blythe, CA, November 3, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 3, 1977
- Place: Blythe, CA · BLYTHE, CA
- Location: 33.6535° N, 114.6218° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Blythe, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6535&lon=-114.6218&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 1, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 144776
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78DUG05
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78DUG05

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3369   77/11/3 NR.BLYTHE,CA          PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 29, 345
        TIME - 1220                    N6947Z              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 44 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         BLYTHE,CA                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: RETURN TO STRIP
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  345                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - LETTUCE                                   TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  240                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
        REMARKS- PILOT INADVERTENTLY FLEW INTO GRND,WAS LOOKING AT HOPPER TANK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6947Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6947Z-1977-12-15), registration cancelled 1977-12-15, S/N 25-2692 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Duster 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 19771103033799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771103033799A), Nov 3, 1977: Piper PA25235, Blythe, CA, Destroyed. Pilot inadvertently flew into grnd,was looking at hopper tank.

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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