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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 14, 2002 · Piper PA-25-235 · N7634Z

Ray, ND

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 14, 2002
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Ray, ND
Aircraft
Piper PA-25-235
Tail Number
N7634Z
Operator
Jeffrey T Knox
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI02CA248

The airplane sustained substantial damage when the airplane stalled during takeoff and impacted the terrain. The pilot reported he had returned to the airstrip in order to fix a plugged spray nozzle. He landed on the southwest runway of the grass airstrip. Once the nozzle was fixed he departed to the northeast. He reported he departed on the northeast runway due to a construction crane located at the southwest end of the runway. He estimated he departed with a 3-4 knot tailwind. He reported, "Upon liftoff, enough airspeed was not obtained to be able to clear the tree row. Once out of ground effect, a stall occurred which may have come from a downdraft + or the possibility of a spark plug fowling while idling to fix nozzle." He reported, "Upon realizing the stall, power was pulled back + had to land in grain field."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane during takeoff. A factor was the tailwind.

Full Narrative

On August 14, 2002, at 0850 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235, N7634Z, sustained substantial damage when the airplane stalled during takeoff and impacted the terrain in a wheat field near Ray, North Dakota. The commercial pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was departing from a private grass airstrip on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he had returned to the airstrip in order to fix a plugged spray nozzle. He landed on the southwest runway of the grass airstrip. Once the nozzle was fixed he departed to the northeast. He reported he departed on the northeast runway due to a construction crane located at the southwest end of the runway. He estimated he departed with a 3-4 knot tailwind. He reported, "Upon liftoff, enough airspeed was not obtained to be able to clear the tree row. Once out of ground effect, a stall occurred which may have come from a downdraft + or the possibility of a spark plug fowling while idling to fix nozzle." He reported, "Upon realizing the stall, power was pulled back + had to land in grain field."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:50 MDT
Nearest AirportPrivate Airstrip (0nm)
Runway050
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-25-235
Tail NumberN7634Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJeffrey T Knox
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-B · Reciprocating

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 40 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data