On June 27, 1988, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N9856P) operated by Mellott, Thomas H. was involved in an aviation accident near Conrad, MT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported losing control of an aircraft during a left turnaround to begin a swath run, resulting in the left wing and main landing gear striking the ground.
Accident Description
The pilot reported that he was performing a left turnaround to begin a swath run. During the maneuver, the aircraft slowed while in a steep left bank at the highest part of the turn. The pilot stated that he was unable to raise the left wing as the aircraft approached the ground. Subsequently, the left wing and main landing gear struck the ground, and the aircraft slid sideways before coming to rest.
Pilot Statement
During a telephone interview on the day after the accident, the pilot stated that there was no problem with the aircraft; he said he just got too slow in the turn. In his written report, the pilot indicated that he was making the turnaround into a 6 to 8 knot wind and thought the wind might have quit while he was in the turn.