# NTSB OAK73DVA65: Piper PA-25, N8537L, Merced, CA, June 21, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: June 21, 1973
- Place: Merced, CA · MERCED, CA
- Location: 37.3114° N, 120.4704° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Merced, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3114&lon=-120.4704&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 190241
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK73DVA65
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK73DVA65

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1547  73/6/21    MERCED,CALIF        PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 60, 25000
        TIME - 0920                    N8537L              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 2386 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MERCED
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MERCED,CALIF                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - IGNITION SYSTEM: SPARK PLUG
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER CLEARANCE-TOLERANCE
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 9999                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - RICE                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          GLOVES - USED                                            GOGGLES - USED
          CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED                        COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - INSTALLED                                    TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
        REMARKS- ACFT LNDD ACROSS FURROWS,GR COLLAPSED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8537L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8537L-1982-09-12), registration cancelled 1982-09-12, S/N 25-4958 (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
- Airport: Merced

## 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 19730621017449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730621017449A), Jun 21, 1973: Piper PA25260, Merced, CA, Substantial damage. Acft lndd across furrows,gr collapsed.

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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