Piper PA-25-235 N8659L

Summary

On 2 July 1993 at about 11:30 local time, a Piper PA-25-235 registered N8659L, operated by Howell Crop Dusting, was involved in an accident near Bainbridge, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 July 1993 at 11:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Bainbridge, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Piper PA-25-235

Registration

N8659L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Howell Crop Dusting

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL93LA121

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN A PRACTICE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, WITH AN INSTRUCTOR OBSERVING FROM THE GROUND. AFTER MAKING AN AERIAL SURVEY AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE PRACTICE SPRAY FIELD, A LEFT TURN WAS BEGUN. THE INSTRUCTOR OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE ENTER A 45 DEG NOSE-DOWN, LEFT WING-DOWN ATTITUDE. IT MAINTAINED THAT ATTITUDE AS IT DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW BEHIND TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AND WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING AND NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, WHILE THE PILOT WAS PREPARING FOR THE FLIGHT, HE STATED THAT HIS DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND HAD A FIGHT. THE PILOT HAD NOT HEARD FROM HER IN 3 DAYS. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE PILOT SEEMED CONCERNED ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER AND ASKED HIM IF HE WAS FOCUSED ON THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT RESPONDED THAT HE WAS FINE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.