N9552PPIPER PA-25-2602010-07-18 NTSB Accident Report

Substantial
Minor

PIPER PA-25-260S/N: 25-7405666

Summary

On July 18, 2010, a Piper PA-25-260 (N9552P) was involved in an accident near Cairo, NE. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.

The pilot departed from a 2,500 foot private strip on the third, of four planned aerial application flights. During the take-off the pilot noted that the wind had shifted from the northeast to the east, and was about 5 knots. Shortly after lift-off, the single-engine airplane began a slow descent. The pilot attempted to correct the problem by turning into the wind while heading to lower ground; however, the airplane continued to descent until it impacted terrain. The pilot stated that there were no pre-accident mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the accident could have been prevented by having a lighter load, aborting the take-off, dumping the load just after take-off, or dumping the load instead of making a 90-degree turn.

This accident is documented in NTSB report CEN10CA410. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9552P.

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, July 18, 2010
NTSB Number
CEN10CA410
Location
Cairo, NE
Event ID
20100719X43835
Coordinates
40.922779, -98.669998
Nearest Airport
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
25-7405666
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1974
Model / ICAO
PA-25-260PA25
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
DEFTY PETER A
Address
PO BOX 1603
Status
Deregistered
City
DAVIS
State / Zip Code
CA 95617-1603
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot departed from a 2,500 foot private strip on the third, of four planned aerial application flights. During the take-off the pilot noted that the wind had shifted from the northeast to the east, and was about 5 knots. Shortly after lift-off, the single-engine airplane began a slow descent. The pilot attempted to correct the problem by turning into the wind while heading to lower ground; however, the airplane continued to descent until it impacted terrain. The pilot stated that there were no pre-accident mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the accident could have been prevented by having a lighter load, aborting the take-off, dumping the load just after take-off, or dumping the load instead of making a 90-degree turn.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN10CA410