# NTSB OAK74DVA37: Piper PA-25, N4769Y, Merced, CA, December 5, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 5, 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: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 21, 1974
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 187485
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK74DVA37
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74DVA37

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3870   73/12/5 NR.MERCED,CALIF       PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 24, 3336
        TIME - 1645                    N4769Y              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 1000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MERCED,CALIF                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - LUBRICATING SYSTEM: FILTERS,SCREEN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OIL EXHAUSTION-ENGINE LUBRICATION SYSTEM
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2500                       KIND OF OPERATION - SEEDING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAIN FIELDS                              TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          CRASH BAR - INSTALLED                                    TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT                                 ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  130
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- OIL FILTER ATTACH BOLT FAILED
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4769Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25
- 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 19731205037539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19731205037539A), Dec 5, 1973: Piper PA25235, Merced, CA, Substantial damage. Oil filter attach bolt failed

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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