On June 27, 1985, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N6647Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Burns, OR. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an aerial application flight, the pilot cleared a rise and encountered a downdraft, leading to tree strike, stall, and ground impact with little forward motion. An explosion and fire followed, originating in the area of the fiberglass fuel tank. The aircraft had the original fiberglass tank, though a rubber fuel cell liner replacement was available.
Incident Summary
An aerial application flight ended in a stall and impact with the ground after a sequence of events. According to the investigation, the pilot cleared a rise during the operation and subsequently encountered a downdraft. The aircraft then struck trees and stalled, hitting the ground with little forward motion. An intense explosion and fire occurred immediately after the impact.
Fire and Fuel Tank Details
The fire originated in the area of the fiberglass fuel tank. Investigators noted that an optional fuel tank assembly replacement with a rubber fuel cell liner had been available for years for this aircraft model. However, the accident aircraft was equipped with the original fiberglass fuel tank, not the upgraded liner.