N8784L

On July 21, 1997, at 1130 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 agricultural airplane, N8784L, owned and operated by Lee Aviation, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff climb near Blackwell, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. A flight plan was not filed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that after takeoff from a private strip, at approximately 300 feet AGL, the airplane's engine experienced a partial loss of power. A forced landing to a road was performed. During the forced landing sequence, the airplane's wing contacted "tall weeds in [a] road ditch and pulled [the] airplane into [the] ditch." The pilot shut down the engine after the airplane came to rest. The vertical stabilizers, the horizontal stabilizer and the aft section of the fuselage were damaged. The left wing was also bent.

An engine run was performed and the FAA inspector who attended the run reported that the pilot "reached in and started the engine; it ran smoothly. He advanced the throttle slightly, the engine accelerated smoothly." The pilot reported that on the day of the accident, there was high temperature and high humidity, and that he "suspected carb[uretor] icing."