# NTSB SEA81DYA15: Piper PA-25, N8553L, Shelley, ID, July 10, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 10, 1981
- Place: Shelley, ID · SHELLEY, ID
- Location: 43.3796° N, 112.1230° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Shelley, ID, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3796&lon=-112.1230&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 20, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124870
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA81DYA15
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81DYA15

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1460  81/7/10    SHELLEY,ID          PIPER PA-25         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0730                    N8553L              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 38, 5890 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            3240 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - AG STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SHELLEY,ID                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        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 - 3000                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - POTATOES                                  TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       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 -  4600                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
        REMARKS- HIT PHONE WIRE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8553L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8553L-2000-02-25), registration cancelled 2000-02-25, S/N 25-4973 (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: Ag Strip

## 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 19810710048889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810710048889A), Jul 10, 1981: Piper PA25235, Shelley, ID, Substantial damage. Struck telephone wires on pull up from a swath run. Crashed in adjacent field.

## Other investigations on N8553L (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 SEA98LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA097), Jun 15, 1998: Piper PA-25-235 (N8553L), Blackfoot, ID, destroyed. Probable cause: A loss of power for undetermined reasons.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
