# NTSB MKC79FTK20: Piper PA-25, N8628L, Belvidere, SD, July 15, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 15, 1979
- Place: Belvidere, SD · BELVIDERE, SD
- Location: 43.8322° N, 101.2705° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Belvidere, SD, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8322&lon=-101.2705&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135106
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC79FTK20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC79FTK20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1433  79/7/15    BELVIDERE,SD        PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 36, 1293
        TIME - 1815                    N8628L              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 625 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MURDO,SD                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: STARTING SWATH RUN
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: MASTER AND CONNECTING RODS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - SMOKE IN COCKPIT
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  600                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  2260                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- #6 CONNECTING ROD-P/N LW11750 FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8628L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8628L-2004-07-22), registration cancelled 2004-07-22, S/N 25-5061, built 1969 (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: 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 19790715016309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790715016309A), Jul 15, 1979: Piper PA25260, Belvidere, SD, Substantial damage. Eng. Connect. Rod failed during spray run. Unable to see ground due to oil on windshield, smoke. Hit ground.

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.