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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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June 7, 2000 · Piper PA-25-235 · N8515L

Maddock, ND

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 7, 2000
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Maddock, ND
Aircraft
Piper PA-25-235
Tail Number
N8515L
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI00LA151

The aircraft was conducting an aerial application mission when the aircraft encountered "dead air" during a turn following the completion of a spray-run. The pilot reported that the aircraft stalled, impacting the terrain. The pilot stated that after he evacuated the airplane it exploded and was consumed in a post-accident fire. The pilot reported that the weather conditions were getting turbulent and he should have terminated the aerial application flights earlier in the day.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft control not being maintained by the pilot. Factors to the accident were the turbulent weather condition, the inadvertent stall, and the inadequate weather evaluation by the pilot.

Full Narrative

On June 7, 2000, at 1138 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N8515L, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with terrain and subsequent ground-fire while conducting an aerial application mission near Maddock, North Dakota. Visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot reported serious injuries. The flight departed a private airstrip near Maddock, North Dakota, at exact time unknown. According to an interview with the pilot, conducted by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration Fargo Flight Standards District Office, he was conducting an aerial application mission when the aircraft encountered "dead air" during a turn following the completion of a spray-run. The pilot reported that the aircraft stalled, impacting the terrain. The pilot stated that after he evacuated the airplane it exploded and was consumed in a post-accident fire. The pilot reported that the weather conditions were getting turbulent and he should have terminated the aerial application flights earlier in the day. According to an annotation to a diagram provided by the pilot, "Run into turbulins [turbulence] and plane stalled crashed here".

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:38 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-25-235
Tail NumberN8515L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540 · Reciprocating · 235
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 56 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point17 C / 13 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data