# NTSB MKC72DCJ71: Piper PA-25, N4997Y, Crawford, NE, June 2, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 2, 1972
- Place: Crawford, NE · CRAWFORD, NE
- Location: 42.6846° N, 103.4160° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Crawford, NE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6846&lon=-103.4160&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 16, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 166886
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC72DCJ71
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC72DCJ71

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2121   72/6/2    CRAWFORD,NEBR       PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 2020
        TIME - 1130                    N4997Y              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 750 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SCOTTSBLUFF,NEBR            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          IN FLIGHT: MANEUVER TO AVOID OBSTRUCTION
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           TERRAIN - OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOAD NOT JETTISONED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      80
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  950                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED                            COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - INSTALLED                                    TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT
          TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING                                    SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
                        HILLY
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - FIRST 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- UN CLEAR RISING TERRAIN N OF FLD,TURNED W,UN CLIMB OVR PWR LINE,FLEW UNDER.DENS ALT 5900FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4997Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4997Y-2013-08-19), registration cancelled 2013-08-19, S/N 25-4816, built 1968 (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)
- 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

## Other investigations on N4997Y (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 CHI96LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA245), Jul 17, 1996: Piper PA-25-235 (N4997Y), Beltrami, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight planning. Factors in the accident were the pilot's failure to jettison the load and the soft runway overrun area.
- [NTSB MKC80DCJ39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC80DCJ39), Sep 4, 1980: Piper PA-25 (N4997Y), Weeping Water, NE, 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.