# NTSB OAK78FVA40: Piper PA-25, N4363Y, Reedley, CA, April 29, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 29, 1978
- Place: Reedley, CA · REEDLEY, CA
- Location: 36.5984° N, 119.4467° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Reedley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5984&lon=-119.4467&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 23, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142725
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78FVA40
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78FVA40

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0647  78/4/29  NR.REEDLEY,CA         PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 22, 1270
        TIME - 0900                    N4363Y              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 540 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GREAT WESTERN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          REEDLEY,CA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  500                       KIND OF OPERATION - DUSTING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - GRAPES                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  400                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        REMARKS- RT WING STRUCK TALL GRASS ON TKOF FROM COUNTY ROAD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4363Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4363Y-1982-03-01), registration cancelled 1982-03-01, S/N 25-4862, built 1969 (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Great Western

## 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 19780429007879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780429007879A), Apr 29, 1978: Piper PA25235, Reedley, CA, Substantial damage. Rt wing struck tall grass on tkof from county road.

## Other investigations on N4363Y (1)

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 OAK75DVA23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75DVA23), Oct 4, 1974: Piper PA-25 (N4363Y), Corcoran, CA, 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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