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NTSB Report
August 29, 1985 · Piper PA-25-235 · N4708Y
Morton, TX
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 29, 1985
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality), 1 unknown outcome
Location
Morton, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-25-235
Tail Number
N4708Y
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW85FQG03
AFTER THE PLT COMPLETED A SWATH RUN, THE ACFT ENTERED A RGT CLIMBING MANEUVER, THEN ROLLED WINGS LEVEL. AFTER THAT, IT REPORTEDLY BEGAN AN ABRUPT CLIMB FOR APRX 50 TO 60 FT, THEN NOSED DOWN & CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT. AFTER IMPACT, THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE & THE PLT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES FROM IMPACT, CHEMICALS & FIRE. A PERSON ON THE GROUND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS HANDS WHILE PULLING THE PLT FROM THE ACFT. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.179%. ALSO, MARIJUANA WAS DETECTED IN AN ALCOHOL SWAB. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. ON THE DATE OF THE PLT'S LAST MEDICAL EXAM (7/31/84), HE CERTIFIED HE HAD 350 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME.
Full Narrative
AFTER THE PLT COMPLETED A SWATH RUN, THE ACFT ENTERED A RGT CLIMBING MANEUVER, THEN ROLLED WINGS LEVEL. AFTER THAT, IT REPORTEDLY BEGAN AN ABRUPT CLIMB FOR APRX 50 TO 60 FT, THEN NOSED DOWN & CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT. AFTER IMPACT, THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE & THE PLT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES FROM IMPACT, CHEMICALS & FIRE. A PERSON ON THE GROUND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS HANDS WHILE PULLING THE PLT FROM THE ACFT. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.179%. ALSO, MARIJUANA WAS DETECTED IN AN ALCOHOL SWAB. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. ON THE DATE OF THE PLT'S LAST MEDICAL EXAM (7/31/84), HE CERTIFIED HE HAD 350 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-25-235
Tail NumberN4708Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540 · Reciprocating · 235
Seats1
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality), 1 unknown outcome
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 27 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT