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May 29, 1986 · Piper PA-25-235 · N7029Z

Lenox, IA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 29, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Lenox, IA
Aircraft
Piper PA-25-235
Tail Number
N7029Z
Operator
Hermes Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC86FCD01

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING A TAKEOFF WITH A FULL LOAD OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDE. COLLISION WITH THE GROUND RESULTED IN A FIRE. THE PLT, WHO WAS SERIOUSLY BURNED AND LATER DIED, STATED ON HIS WAY TO THE HOSPITAL THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE ACFT LOAD BUT GRABBED THE FLAP HANDLE BY MISTAKE WHICH EXTENDED FULL FLAPS. THIS WAS THE PLTS THIRD AG OPERATION ACCIDENT, ONE PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED AN ABORTED TAKEOFF AND CRASH OFF THE END OF A RWY. THE RWY IN USE ON THE DAY OF THIS ACCIDENT WAS GRASS APRX ONE TO TWO FT DEEP OVER ALL BUT A 300 FT SECTION OF MOWED AREA IN MID FIELD THAT WAS USED BY LOCAL FLYERS OF RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL ACFT. THE DENSITY ALT WAS COMPUTED TO BE 2200 FT AND THERE WAS THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE AREA NORTH OF THE ARPT AND ABOUT TWO MILES SOUTH OF THE RWY. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED AND HIS LOG BOOKS WERE NOT LOCATED.

Full Narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING A TAKEOFF WITH A FULL LOAD OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDE. COLLISION WITH THE GROUND RESULTED IN A FIRE. THE PLT, WHO WAS SERIOUSLY BURNED AND LATER DIED, STATED ON HIS WAY TO THE HOSPITAL THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE ACFT LOAD BUT GRABBED THE FLAP HANDLE BY MISTAKE WHICH EXTENDED FULL FLAPS. THIS WAS THE PLTS THIRD AG OPERATION ACCIDENT, ONE PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED AN ABORTED TAKEOFF AND CRASH OFF THE END OF A RWY. THE RWY IN USE ON THE DAY OF THIS ACCIDENT WAS GRASS APRX ONE TO TWO FT DEEP OVER ALL BUT A 300 FT SECTION OF MOWED AREA IN MID FIELD THAT WAS USED BY LOCAL FLYERS OF RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL ACFT. THE DENSITY ALT WAS COMPUTED TO BE 2200 FT AND THERE WAS THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THE AREA NORTH OF THE ARPT AND ABOUT TWO MILES SOUTH OF THE RWY. THE PLTS FLT TIME WAS NOT REPORTED AND HIS LOG BOOKS WERE NOT LOCATED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 CDT
Nearest AirportLENOX (0nm N)
Runway36
Runway Length1950 ft
Runway Width125 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-25-235
Tail NumberN7029Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHermes Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540 · Reciprocating · 235
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 33 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind5 kt, gusting 15 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:54
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data