# NTSB LAX78FUG28: Piper PA-25, N7170Z, Blythe, CA, May 21, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 21, 1978
- 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: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 23, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142257
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78FUG28
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUG28

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0872  78/5/21  NR.BLYTHE,CA          PIPER PA-25         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 3322
        TIME - 0700                    N7170Z              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 300 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DUSTER STRIP                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - DUSTING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -NOT FASTENED                         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 -  20                  SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- DUSTING MELONS
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7170Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7170Z-1978-07-12), registration cancelled 1978-07-12, S/N 25-3034 (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: Destroyed
- 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 19780521011679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780521011679A), May 21, 1978: Piper PA25235, Blythe, CA, Destroyed. Dusting melons

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.