On June 22, 1986, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N7723Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Cope, CO. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot reported a power loss during a pull-up at the end of a swath run. A forced landing in a recently cultivated, soft field resulted in the aircraft nosing over after a short ground roll. No cause for the loss was found during examination.
Incident Overview
The pilot reported that the engine quit during a pull-up at the end of a swath run. A forced landing was attempted in a field straight ahead. The field had been recently cultivated and was soft. After a short ground roll, the landing gear dug in and the aircraft nosed over.
Fuel and Flight Time
According to the pilot, there were 22 gallons of fuel onboard at takeoff, and the aircraft had been airborne for approximately 20 minutes at the time of the incident.
Examination Results
The wreckage was examined and the engine was run. No evidence was found to explain the reported power loss.