Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bainbridge, Georgia 31717
Friday, July 2, 1993 7:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN A PRACTICE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, WITH AN INSTRUCTOR OBSERVING FROM THE GROUND. AFTER MAKING AN AERIAL SURVEY AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE PRACTICE SPRAY FIELD, A LEFT TURN WAS BEGUN. THE INSTRUCTOR OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE ENTER A 45 DEG NOSE-DOWN, LEFT WING-DOWN ATTITUDE. IT MAINTAINED THAT ATTITUDE AS IT DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW BEHIND TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AND WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A LEFT WING AND NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, WHILE THE PILOT WAS PREPARING FOR THE FLIGHT, HE STATED THAT HIS DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND HAD A FIGHT. THE PILOT HAD NOT HEARD FROM HER IN 3 DAYS. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE PILOT SEEMED CONCERNED ABOUT HIS DAUGHTER AND ASKED HIM IF HE WAS FOCUSED ON THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT RESPONDED THAT HE WAS FINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE GROUND.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 730
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BAINBRIDGE
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31717
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 748 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID ABY
Elevation of weather observation facility 197
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1115
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 2 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 845
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8659L
NTSB Number ATL93LA121
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-25-235
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-25-235
Aircraft Serial Number 25-5107
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 84
Airframe Hours 5959
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BILLY HOWELL D/B/A
Aircraft Owner Street Address POST OFFICE BOX 648
Aircraft Owner City BAINBRIDGE
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31717
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOWELL CROP DUSTING
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address POST OFFICE BOX 648
Operator City BAINBRIDGE
Operator State GA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 31717
Operator Code FWQG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 725
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --