On July 11, 1983, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N7019Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Hopeful, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude during a turn while conducting aerial application, resulting in a stall. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft stalled during a turn while spraying soybeans on a hot day. The pilot reported no mechanical issues, but insufficient altitude prevented recovery.
What happened
The aircraft collided with the ground while executing a turn during an aerial application operation. The pilot was in the process of spraying soybeans when the stall occurred. Due to insufficient altitude, the pilot was unable to recover from the stall before impact. The ambient temperature on the day of the incident was 95 degrees.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor was the stall during a low-altitude maneuver. The pilot stated there were no problems with the aircraft or engine, suggesting the cause was operational rather than mechanical.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude during a turn while conducting aerial application, resulting in a stall.