# NTSB NYC94LA098: Piper PA-25-235, N8688L, Burt, NY, May 30, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 1994, 20:30 local (May 30, 1994, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Burt, NY
- Coordinates: 43.309017, -78.709854 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3090&lon=-78.7099&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38767
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38767/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA098

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in an inadvertent stall and collision with trees.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL SPRAYING OF AN ORCHARD.  HE HAD COMPLETED 12 PASSES AND WAS MANEUVERING FOR THE LAST PASS.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS HEADED IN 'AN EASTERLY DIRECTION, WENT INTO AN AG TURN, TO HEAD WEST, WHEN AIRCRAFT WAS IN WESTERLY DIRECTION, STILL IN TURN, WE HIT TREES AND GROUND.  ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED OF 80 MPH IN THE TURN AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED.

## Factual narrative

On Sunday, May 29, 1994, at 2030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N8688L, registered to and piloted by Lindsay E. Hobbs, sustained substantial damage, while performing aerial application maneuvers in Burt, New York.  The pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 137.

The pilot departed the private airstrip for a crop spraying  flight.  He had completed 12 spraying passes and was turning for a last pass, when the airplane impacted trees.

Mr. Donald F. Miller, Aviation Safety Inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, stated in his report:

[The] pilot allowed [the] speed of [the]            aircraft to get too slow while executing           a right turn at about 75 feet altitude and           crashed into the apple orchard.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8688L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8688L-2013-05-15), registration cancelled 2013-05-15, S/N 25-5141, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235
- 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
- Serial number: 25-5141
- Airframe hours: 4935
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B2B5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Lindsay E. Hobbs
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1994, 23 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,048 total, 1,780 in this make and model, 1,942 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19940529017719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940529017719A), May 29, 1994: Piper PA25235, Burt, NY, Substantial damage. Spraying orchard. Struck trees on a turn around. Failed to maintain speed. Stalled.

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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