Piper PA-25-235 N8563L

Summary

On 13 August 2003 at about 15:30 local time, a Piper PA-25-235 registered N8563L was involved in an accident near Sparta, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 August 2003 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sparta, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

43.1619, -85.6583

Aircraft

Piper PA-25-235

Registration

N8563L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA263

1 person died.

The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the inadvertent stall/spin encountered. The inadequate fuel supply, airspeed not being maintained, low altitude, and terrain were factors to the accident.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted the ground while maneuvering. The airplane was engaged in aerial application at the time of the accident. A witness reported that he observed the airplane heading north at approximately 100 feet above the ground and thought that the airplane was leaving the area after spraying some crops nearby. The witness stated that he began walking back to work, when he heard the aircraft engine suddenly stop, followed by the sound of the impact with the ground. The witness also stated that the engine sounded normal to him and that it did not sputter or backfire before suddenly stopping. A post-accident inspection revealed that the airplane's fuselage showed signs of rotational forces consistent with an aircraft spin. Also, no traces of aviation fuel in the airplane or surrounding the accident site were noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.