# NTSB MIA01LA104: Piper PA-25-235, N6674Z, Bainbridge, GA, March 22, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 22, 2001, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Bainbridge, GA - Coordinates: 30.974721, -84.640274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9747&lon=-84.6403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51950 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51950/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout while maneuvering during a agricultural run, and inadvertent descent with a known sun glare resulting in an in-flight collision with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - light condition - sunglare - descent - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was conducting instructional agricultural spray runs with a known sun glare. The pilot descended inadvertently and the airplane collided with terrain while maneuvering. ## Factual narrative On March 22, 2001, at about 1830 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 aerial application training flight by Howell Crop Dusting, crashed in an open field in the vicinity of Bainbridge, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight originated from Decatur County Industrial Airpark, Bainbridge, Georgia, about 15 minutes before the accident. A citizen who resides in the local area observed the airplane in an open field. He informed his wife to call 911, and he departed his residence to check on the airplane. Rescue personnel arrived at the accident site, and transported the injured pilot to a local area hospital. The pilot stated he was conducting practice agricultural spray runs in a field located about 1.5 miles west of Bainbridge Airport. The sun was setting and it was pretty bright so he was making his spray runs from north to south to avoid the sun. He stated he does not recall the accident but he may have turned into the sun and collided with the terrain. The pilot's flight instructor stated he returned from a flight between 6:00 P.M. and 6:15 P.M. landing on runway 27. He noted that the sun was directly down the runway about a foot or two above the horizon and was very bright. As he was taxiing in, he observed the accident pilot about to take off from runway 27. He called him on the radio and informed him not to make any runs towards the sun while he was in the field because it could be very dangerous. The pilot acknowledged his transmission and departed. About 15 to 20 minutes later, a student came to his room and stated they heard an engine stop dead, and thought it was the Citabra. He immediately got hold of a handheld radio and called the Citabra, and did not get an answer. He called the owner of Howell crop Dusting and reported the incident. Another pilot was landing at the airport, and he asked him to search the ground west of the airport for an orange Citabra. He called back a few minutes later and he stated he had spotted the wreckage , but stated that it looked more like a Pawnee than a Citabra. Examination of the crash site by the registered owner and the FAA revealed the right wing tip collided with the ground about 75 feet from the major impact site in a right bank. The airplane continued forward and collided with the ground in a nose down left wing low attitude before coming to a complete stop. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, and engine assembly revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6674Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6674Z-2018-01-25), registration cancelled 2018-01-25, S/N 25-2275, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-25-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-2275 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: William F. Howell - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: BGE, Bainbridge, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 385 total, 3 in this make and model, 254 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: DHN, 55 nm away ## 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 20010322006819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010322006819A), Mar 22, 2001: Piper PA25235, Bainbridge, GA, No damage. (-23) This was an ag training flight. The student turned the a/c to the right and struck the ground with the right wing tip then over corrected to the left and… ## Other investigations on N6674Z (2) 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. - [NTSB ATL96LA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA003), Oct 6, 1995: Piper PA-25-235 (N6674Z), Gulf Shores, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). A factor relating to the accident was: the proximity of high obstructions (trees) to the emergency landing area. - [NTSB UNK64X3967](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X3967), Sep 13, 1964: Piper PA25 (N6674Z), Wharton, TX, 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. --- 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.