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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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July 10, 1982 · Piper PA-25 · N4979Y

Edmonson, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 10, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Edmonson, TX
Aircraft
Piper PA-25
Tail Number
N4979Y
Operator
Joe Ramsey
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW82FQG19

The pilot had been spraying the field for about 1 hour and was on the last pass. The owner/flagger stated that he had warned the pilot (by using a two-way radio) to watch out for a standpipe and radio antenna, and the pilot acknowledged. He reported the plane was on its last pass and appeared to be high enough to clear the antenna. In the vicinity of the antenna, he observed the plane pull up steeply, roll to the right, then go down and impact the ground. An investigation revealed that the plane crashed about 125 feet beyond a fiberglass whip antenna. The antenna was about 1 inch in diameter at its base and tapered to very thin at the top, about 75 to 85 feet above ground level. About 12 feet had separated from the top of the antenna. After impacting the ground, the plane burned and was demolished. No preimpact malfunction or failures were found. The pilot died about 10 minutes after being removed from the burning plane.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT HAD BEEN SPRAYING THE FIELD FOR ABOUT 1 HR AND WAS ON THE LAST PASS. THE OWNER/FLAGGER STATED THAT HE HAD WARNED THE PILOT (BY USING A TWO WAY RADIO) TO WATCH OUT FOR A STANDPIPE AND RADIO ANTENNA, AND THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED. HE REPORTED THE PLANE WAS ON ITS LAST PASS AND APPEARED TO BE HIGH ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE ANTENNA. IN THE VICINITY OF THE ANTENNA, HE OBSERVED THE PLANE PULL UP STEEPLY, ROLL TO THE RIGHT, THEN GO DOWN AND IMPACT THE GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLANE CRASHED ABOUT 125 FT BEYOND A FIBERGLASS WHIP ANTENNA. THE ANTENNA WAS ABOUT 1 INCH IN DIAMETER AT ITS BASE AND TAPERED TO VERY THIN AT THE TOP, ABOUT 75 TO 85 FT AGL. ABOUT 12 FT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TOP OF THE ANTENNA. AFTER IMPACTING THE GROUND, THE PLANE BURNED AND WAS DEMOLISHED. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE PILOT DIED ABOUT 10 MIN AFTER BEING REMOVED FROM THE BURNING PLANE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireBoth
Aircraft ExplosionBoth

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-25
Tail NumberN4979Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJoe Ramsey
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540 · Reciprocating · 250
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind30° @ 5 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data