# NTSB SEA95LA168: Piper PA-25-235, N8808L, Shelley, ID, July 31, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 31, 1995, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Shelley, ID
- Coordinates: 43.340915, -112.069557 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3409&lon=-112.0696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 4, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42210
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42210/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA168

## Probable cause

THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE BURST DURING TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,tire - burst (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - crop
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL ON A ROUGH AIRSTRIP, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE BLEW OUT. AS THE PILOT WAS CORRECTING FOR THE SITUATION, THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GRAIN GROWING ALONG THE BORDER OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE VEERED INTO THE FIELD AND NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On July 31, 1995, at 1030 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25- 235, N8808L, nosed over in an open field near Shelley, Idaho, after a main landing gear tire blew during the take off ground roll.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local aerial application flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries.

The pilot reported that during the take off ground roll on a rough dirt airstrip, the left main landing gear tire blew out.  The pilot stated that as he was correcting for the situation, the right wing contacted the grain growing along the boarder of the airstrip.  The airplane veered into the field and nosed over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8808L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8808L-2017-06-14), registration cancelled 2017-06-14, S/N 25-5306, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-25-235
- Registry model: [Piper PA-25-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-25-235) (registry code 7102504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-540-B2C5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-540-b2c5) (registry code 42338, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 25-5306
- Airframe hours: 4790
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-B2C5 235 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: William A. Christensen
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1994, 260 hours before
- Airport: runway 18, 4,000 × 75 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 9,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 8,700 as pilot in command, 260 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F

## 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 19950731021149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950731021149A), Jul 31, 1995: Piper PA25235, Shelly, ID, Substantial damage. Blew a tire on takeoff. Lost control. Contacted grain on edge of ag strip. Veered into field. Nosed over.

## Other investigations on N8808L (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 CEN14LA261](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA261), May 28, 2014: Piper PA-25-235 (N8808L), Boulder, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to adequately monitor the airplane's actual fuel consumption rate, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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