# NTSB OAK69A0003: Piper PA-25, N4574Y, Crows Lndng, CA, July 16, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: July 16, 1968
- Place: Crows Lndng, CA · CROWS LNDNG, CA
- Location: 37.3944° N, 121.0752° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Crows Landing, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3944&lon=-121.0752&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 109140
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK69A0003
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK69A0003

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2051  68/7/16    CROWS LNDNG,CALIF   FAIRCHILD WM-62C    CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 2400
        TIME - 0600                    N68444              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 2100 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  1                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CROWS LDG NAS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2200                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT                                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
                        ROLLING
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          CONVERGENCE ANGLE-DEGREES -  90                          HORIZONTAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -   90
          VERTICAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -  0                    EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - NOT INSTALLED
        REMARKS- SPRAYING ALFALFA.PLT OF N4574Y INITIATED SWATH RUN BELOW POWER LINE,OUT OF RISING SUN.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2051  68/7/16    CROWS LNDNG,CALIF   PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 1218
        TIME - 0600                    N4574Y              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 314 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  1                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CROWS LDG NAS
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: STARTING SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  509                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM                                        ROLLING
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          CONVERGENCE ANGLE-DEGREES -  90                          HORIZONTAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -   90
          VERTICAL COLLISION ANGLE-DEGREES -  0                    EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - NOT INSTALLED
        REMARKS- PLT OF N4574Y FAILED TO ASSURE FIELD WAS CLEAR OF OTHER ACFT BEFORE STARTING SWATH RUN.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N4574Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4574Y-1970-06-28), registration cancelled 1970-06-28, S/N 25-4241 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Crows Ldg Nas

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N68444](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68444-2013-05-02), registration cancelled 2013-05-02, S/N 4593-AE, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD WM-62C
- Registry model: [Fairchild M-62C(PT-23A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-m-62c-pt-23a) (registry code 3371630) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Crows Ldg Nas

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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