Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Minot, North Dakota 58704
Friday, August 4, 2006 21:35 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The agricultural spray airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain after a loss of control during a forced landing. The pilot reported that he had about two hours of fuel on board the airplane when he departed to spray a field. He was returning to his private airstrip about 1.5 hours after departure when the engine lost power. He attempted a forced landing to a gravel road, but a car was approaching so he changed directions to avoid any traffic on the ground. He reported that the stall warning light illuminated while he was in a left bank. He reported, "I started to flare about 50 ft. above the ground and the plane stalled dropping the left wing before impact." The inspection of the airplane revealed that the fuel tanks were empty.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate fuel calculations and the low airspeed which resulted in the pilot stalling the airplane. A factor was the car on the road which prevented the pilot from landing on the road.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/4/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2135
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Minot
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58704
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 483600N
Event Location Longitude 1012000W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20546
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2006 8:45AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7587Z
NTSB Number CHI06CA216
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-25
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 25-3666
Certified Max Gross Weight 2900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Nelson Flying Service
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lansford
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58750
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Lansford
Departure State ND
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 18 2006 4:58PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --