# NTSB MIA98LA222: Piper PA-25-235, N8654L, Bainbridge, GA, August 12, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 1998, 00:00 local (04:00 UTC) - Place: Bainbridge, GA - Location: 30.9049° N, 84.5730° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bainbridge, GA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9049&lon=-84.5730&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 28, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43694 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43694/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA222 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in a stall. ## Analysis The pilot departed on an aerial application training flight and did not return to the departure airport. The airplane was located in a wooded area. The airplane collided with the ground in a nose down, right wing low attitude. There was no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure of the airframe, flight controls, propeller, engine assembly or accessories. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 1998, at an unknown time, a Piper PA-25-235, N8654L, registered to a private owner, operating as AG Flight Inc, as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application training flight, crashed in the vicinity of Bainbridge, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Decatur County Industrial Airpark, Bainbridge, Georgia, at about 1115. An instructor pilot for the operator stated the pilot did not return from a simulated aerial application run. Attempts to locate the pilot by radio were uneventful. An air search was initiated and the airplane was located at about 1207. The wreckage of N8654L was located in a wooded area south of Brinson Air Base Road, Bainbridge, Georgia, about 2 miles west of Decatur County Industrial Airpark. Examination of the crashsite revealed the airplane collided with the ground in a near vertical nose down, right wing low attitude. The leading edge of the right wing sustained sustained "accordion pleats starting just inboard of the lift struts, increasing in magnitude toward the tip which was bent up." The left wing had separated from the fuselage at the trailing edge. Both the hopper and fuel tanks were ruptured. One propeller blade was straight with signs of rotational abrasion on the back. The other propeller blade was bent back with evidence of torsional twisting. Examination of the flight control system, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a precrash mechanical failure or malfunction. Continuity of the flight control system was confirmed for pitch, roll, and yaw. (For additional information see FAA Inspector Statement). Postmortem examination of the pilot was conducted by Dr. Mark A. Koponen, Medical Examiner, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Decatur, Georgia, on August 14, 1998. The cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries. Postmortem toxicology of specimens from the pilot was performed by the Forensic Toxicology Research Section, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. These studies were negative for alcohol, basic, acidic, and neutral drugs. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - object - tree(s) - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ground - stall, pilot in command ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8654L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8654L-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N 25-5098, built 1969 (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: 25-5098 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 137 - Operator: Barry C. Lindsey, doing business as Ag Flight Inc - Registered owner: William F. Howell - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 13, 1998 - Departed: BGE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 272 total, 30 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 50 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 19980812030859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980812030859A), Aug 12, 1998: Piper PA25235, Bainbridge, GA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) A stall spin scenario was indicated by the wreckage. The pilot of this single place aircraft was fatally injured. 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.