Skip to content

Fatal NTSB investigations: Piper PA-25

29 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Piper PA-25. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases per year

19642026

Where

Latest cases

Query with SQL

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1 WHERE c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102502')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102502'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7102502'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB CEN25FA248Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportPiper PA-25 · Hot Springs, SDOn July 12, 2025, about 1322 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25, N8186K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Hot Springs, South Dakota. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal…Jul 12, 2025 · N8186K · Substantial damage NTSB ERA20LA330Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA25 · Floral City, FLThe pilot’s failure to see and avoid a tree while flying towards the rising sun during an aerial application flight, which resulted in a collision with the tree and a subsequent loss of airplane control.Sep 23, 2020 · N6106Z · Destroyed NTSB WPR09FA414Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25 · Creswell, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff for a glider tow operation. Contributing to the accident were the tow pilot's impairment due to marijuana use and the low altitude of the flight that reduced the time available to recover from an…Aug 23, 2009 · N6353Z · Substantial damage NTSB CHI97LA159Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25 · Sullivan, MOthe pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for flight into IMC. Factors were: the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, his inadequate evaluation of the weather, and fog.Jun 7, 1997 · N6339Z · Substantial damage NTSB CHI96FA141Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25-150 · Buffalo, MOfailure of company/operator personnel to install the wing and landing gear (strut) fairings after modifying the airplane for a supplemental type certificate (STC), and improper planning/decision by the pilot. Factors relating to the accident were: the…Apr 24, 1996 · N6254Z · Destroyed NTSB CHI94FA263Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25 · Decatur, NELoss of engine power for an undetermined reason, and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.Aug 2, 1994 · N6440Z · Destroyed NTSB CHI93DCD02Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-25 · Essex, IAFatigue failure of the forward spar fuselage attachment assembly for the right wing. A factor related to the accident was: the lack of a directed inspection procedure that could have been provided with the issuance of an airworthiness directive.May 21, 1993 · N6453Z · Destroyed NTSB MKC88DCQ02Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-25-150 · Chase, KSWitnesses stated they saw the acft spraying a hayfield. They observed the acft strike a powerline as it was making a turn. The pilot stated that his wing clipped the powerline and that the acft went into a flat spin from which he couldn't recover.May 7, 1988 · N6337Z · Substantial damage NTSB DEN86FTK03Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-25 · Badger, SDThe acft nosed over during a forced landing after takeoff. The acft was landed straight ahead and rolled out into a standing pool of water 8-10 inches deep where it flipped over crushing the canopy and trapping the plts body. During post acc invest sediment…Jun 17, 1986 · N6120Z · Substantial damage NTSB CHI83FA393Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25-150 · Graceville, MNWhile spraying a field adjacent to a house the acft struck a guy wire which had been strung between a 82 ft tower on the house & a 28 ft pole supported by wires.Aug 26, 1983 · N6253Z · Destroyed NTSB CHI82FA259Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-25-150 · Winamac, INThe plt was practicing aerial application maneuvers, & after making a low pass down the rwy at his private airstrip, theengine quit. The acft collided with 30-FT high power lines located at the end of the strip. A state trooper who arrived at the scene 10 to…Jul 20, 1982 · N6241Z · Destroyed NTSB CHI80FER49Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Grove City, MNJun 16, 1980 · N6444Z · Destroyed NTSB NYC77FNE22Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Amherst, MAJun 20, 1977 · N6063Z · Destroyed NTSB MKC76FCJ01Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · O Neill, NEJul 3, 1975 · N6361Z · Destroyed NTSB MKC75FER65Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Benson, MNApr 16, 1975 · N6027Z · Destroyed NTSB MIA73FLT08Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Newbern, TNSep 27, 1972 · N6306Z · Destroyed NTSB FTW72FPJ35Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Davis, OKMar 15, 1972 · N6178Z · Destroyed NTSB MIA71FKQ11Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Georgetown, MSSep 14, 1970 · N6420Z · Destroyed NTSB FTW71FQG04Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Sunny Side, TXJul 10, 1970 · N6184Z · Destroyed NTSB FTW70FPJ13Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Cushing, OKApr 22, 1970 · N8226 · Substantial damage NTSB FTW70F0220Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Hollis, OKSep 17, 1969 · N6103Z · Destroyed NTSB DEN70F0010Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Las Cruces, NMJun 6, 1969 · N6473Z · Substantial damage NTSB MIA69F0166Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Marks, MSSep 10, 1968 · N6133Z · Substantial damage NTSB FTW69F0191Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Presidio, TXSep 7, 1968 · N6271Z · Destroyed NTSB CHI69A0024Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Otterbein, INAug 25, 1968 · N6574Z · Destroyed NTSB MIA68A0027Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Taylorsville, FLSep 1, 1967 · N6251Z · Destroyed NTSB FTW66A0089Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Norman, OKApr 9, 1966 · N6158Z · Destroyed NTSB FTW66A0013Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · La Villa, TXAug 1, 1965 · N6277Z · Destroyed NTSB UNK64X3929Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Hereford, TXSep 12, 1964 · N6481Z · Destroyed