# NTSB MKC81DCQ50: Piper PA-25, N8501L, Ness City, KS, August 22, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 22, 1981
- Place: Ness City, KS · NESS CITY, KS
- Location: 38.4541° N, 99.9047° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ness City, KS, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4541&lon=-99.9047&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124454
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC81DCQ50
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81DCQ50

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2224  81/8/22  NR.NESS CITY,KS       PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 42, 2500
        TIME - 1030                    N8501L              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 2380 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED         LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2380                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 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 -HILLY
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  2310
        REMARKS- WING TIP STRUCK GND WHILE TURNING TO LND INTO WND.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8501L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8501L), registered now, S/N 25-4915, built 1969 (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: 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 19810822050879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810822050879A), Aug 22, 1981: Piper PA25235, Ness City, KS, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel returning to base after spray operation. Caught wing on ground turning into wind and cartwheeled.

## Other investigations on N8501L (1)

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 CHI06CA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA257), Sep 6, 2006: Piper PA-25-235 (N8501L), Anamoose, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from terrain during the aerial application pass.

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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