# NTSB MKC74FCJ06: Piper PA-25, N4844Y, Thurston, NE, August 20, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 20, 1973
- Place: Thurston, NE · THURSTON, NE
- Location: 42.1747° N, 96.7016° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Thurston, NE, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1747&lon=-96.7016&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 30, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 188986
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC74FCJ06
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74FCJ06

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2878  73/8/20    THURSTON,NEBR       PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 37, 7000
        TIME - 0730                    N4844Y              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 3500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          THURSTON,NEBR               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: CROP                                      IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1800                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - CORN                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  1200                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UPWIND
        REMARKS- DRG ATMPT TO SLIDE AROUND SHORT ROWS ON CONTOUR R WING LOST LIFT WING CAUGHT CORN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4844Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4844Y-1996-06-17), registration cancelled 1996-06-17, S/N 254643 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19730820029989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730820029989A), Aug 20, 1973: Piper PA25260, Thurston, NE, Substantial damage. Drg atmpt to slide around short rows on contour r wing lost lift wing caught corn.

## Other investigations on N4844Y (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 NYC93FA166](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93FA166), Aug 22, 1993: Piper PA-25-260 (N4844Y), Plymouth, MA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: was the failure of the pilot to attain proper alignment for the banner pickup which resulted in picking up the banner tow rope on the wing, and an inflight loss of control and uncontrolled contact…
- [NTSB MKC81FCD33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FCD33), Aug 16, 1981: Piper PA-25 (N4844Y), Clear Lake, IA, 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.

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