# NTSB MKC81FCD33: Piper PA-25, N4844Y, Clear Lake, IA, August 16, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 16, 1981
- Place: Clear Lake, IA · CLEAR LAKE, IA
- Location: 43.1351° N, 93.3737° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Clear Lake, IA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1351&lon=-93.3737&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124442
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC81FCD33
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC81FCD33

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2203  81/8/16    CLEAR LAKE,IA       PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 45, 2113
        TIME - 0630                    N4844Y              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 1500 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MASON CITY,IA               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - IGNITION SYSTEM: MAGNETOS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - CORN                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          CRASH BAR - INSTALLED                                    TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT
          TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING                                    ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  1200
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM                          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- L MAG IMPULSE COUPLING,PN 10-70370,FAILED,JAMMED DRIVE GEARS,SHEARED DOWEL PIN,CRNKSHFT DRIVE GEAR
```

## 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 19810816049839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810816049839A), Aug 16, 1981: Piper PA25235, Clear Lake, IA, Substantial damage. Magneto impulse coupling failed, jammed accessory gear train. Loss of valve action through cam stopped engine.

## 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 MKC74FCJ06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC74FCJ06), Aug 20, 1973: Piper PA-25 (N4844Y), Thurston, 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.

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