On August 6, 1990, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N82521) was involved in an aviation accident near Ulen, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's loss of control during a low-altitude maneuver. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot conducting a low-altitude flight to observe crop development lost control during a left turn and crashed into terrain, sustaining serious injuries.
What happened
The pilot was operating the aircraft at a low altitude for the purpose of observing crop development. While the exact reason for the loss of control is not recalled by the pilot, the last event remembered was executing a left turn. A witness observed the aircraft descending in a wing-low and nose-down attitude before impacting the terrain.
The investigation
A subsequent mechanical inspection revealed no defects that would have negatively impacted the flight. The damage to the aircraft was substantial.
Findings
The pilot sustained serious injuries in the accident. No mechanical failures were identified as contributing factors.
Probable cause
the pilot's loss of control during a low-altitude maneuver