# NTSB SEA78FYK07: Piper PA-25, N6559L, Christmas Vly, OR, January 20, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: January 20, 1978
- Place: Christmas Vly, OR · CHRISTMAS VLY, OR
- Location: 43.2363° N, 120.6369° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Christmas Valley, OR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2363&lon=-120.6369&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143747
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA78FYK07
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA78FYK07

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0250  78/1/20    CHRISTMAS VLY,OR    PIPER PA-25         CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 3000
        TIME - 1035                    N6559L              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CHRISTMAS VLY,OR            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: OBJECT                                    IN FLIGHT: CLEANUP SWATH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  4350                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- COLLIDED WITH ELEVATED SPRINKLER SYSTEM. SPRAYING ALFALFA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6559L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6559L-1978-03-06), registration cancelled 1978-03-06, S/N 25-5488 (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: Destroyed

## 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 19780120000619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780120000619A), Jan 20, 1978: Piper PA25235, Christmas Vly, OR, Destroyed. Collided with elevated sprinkler system. Spraying alfalfa.

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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