Piper PA-25 N4346Y

Summary

On 19 August 2003 at about 22:00 local time, a Piper PA-25 registered N4346Y was involved in an accident near Brandon, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 August 2003 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Brandon, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

43.6219, -88.7667

Aircraft

Piper PA-25

Registration

N4346Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waupun Airport → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA272

Nobody was injured.

The pilot failed to maintain clearance from the corn crop during an aerial application maneuver. Additional factors were the terrain induced turbulence and the corn crop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The part 137 aerial application airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted the corn crop and terrain during a spray pass over the field. The pilot reported that approximately 70 gallons of chemical remained as he was making the aerial swath before the accident. He reported the winds were from the south at 9 knots gusting to 14 knots, and the temperature was 88 degrees Fahrenheit. He reported the airplane was descending over a treeline heading southbound when it experienced moderate turbulence. He reported that he was "unable to stop the descent before the airplane made contact with the corn." The airplane continued it's descent and the nose of the airplane impacted the ground and the airplane skidded to a stop. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction of the airplane prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.