On August 24, 1985, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N9748P) was involved in an aviation accident near Yankton, SD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft contacted a power line during an aerial application flight, leading to an uncontrolled descent into terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an aerial application flight, an aircraft contacted a power line and descended uncontrolled into terrain. Witnesses reported the aircraft pulled up at the west end of a 40-acre field but failed to clear the lines, nosing over into another field. The pilot was covered with insecticide but was hosed off within minutes.
Accident Overview
An aircraft conducting an aerial application flight descended uncontrolled into terrain after contacting a power line. The incident occurred as the aircraft was spraying insecticide.
Witness Observations
Witnesses reported that the aircraft appeared to pull up at the west end of a 40-acre field. However, it did not clear the power lines and subsequently nosed over into another field.
Chemical Exposure
The insecticide being sprayed was Ethyo/Parathion. During the accident, the pilot was covered with the chemical. Emergency responders hosed off the pilot within five minutes after the accident.
Probable cause
The aircraft contacted a power line during an aerial application flight, leading to an uncontrolled descent into terrain.