# NTSB LAX79DUM04: Piper PA-25, N4998Y, Westmoreland, CA, December 24, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: December 24, 1978
- Place: Westmoreland, CA · WESTMORELAND, CA
- Location: 33.0390° N, 115.6224° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westmorland, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0390&lon=-115.6224&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 1, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 138266
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX79DUM04
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DUM04

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3674  78/12/24   WESTMORELAND,CA     PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 724
        TIME - 1220                    N4998Y              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WESTMORELAND,CA             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  724                       KIND OF OPERATION - DUSTING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - LETTUCE                                   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
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND                          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - ENTRY TO PROCEDURE TURN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4998Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4998Y-2012-08-09), registration cancelled 2012-08-09, S/N 25-4818, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-260) (registry code 7102508) (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: Destroyed

## 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 19781224040389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19781224040389A), Dec 24, 1978: Piper PA25235, Westmoreland, CA, Destroyed

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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