Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Trenton, North Dakota 58853
Saturday, October 24, 1992 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A WITNESS REPORTED THE PILOT WAS MAKING A SERIES OF LOW PASSES OVER A FARM HOUSE, PULLING UP AND CHANGING DIRECTION BETWEEN EACH PASS. HE STATED THE PILOT '...DISPENSED SOME SORT OF SMOKE...' DURING THE PASSES. THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SMALL TREE DURING A LOW PASS. WITNESSES STATED ON ABOUT THE FIFTH LOW PASS, THE AIRPLANE PULLED UP IN A STEEP BANK TURN, THEN PITCHED DOWN AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. A POSTIMPACT GROUND FIRE ENSUED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT HANDLING WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/24/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City TRENTON
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58853
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 10
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1250 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 275
Weather Observation Facility ID ISN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1982
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 300
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 815
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 24 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1445
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 48314
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:23PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8675L
NTSB Number CHI93LA017
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-25-260
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-25-260
Aircraft Serial Number 25-5084
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 16 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 200
Airframe Hours 3500
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMESTOWN AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 427
Aircraft Owner City JAMESTOWN
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58401
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMESTOWN AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 427
Operator City JAMESTOWN
Operator State ND
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 58401
Operator Code
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code JMS
Departure City JAMESTOWN
Departure State ND
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
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 10:35AM
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 --