On June 11, 1996, a Piper PA-25 (registration N9844P) was involved in an aviation accident near Cleveland, ND. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and altitude during a low-level agricultural operation, which resulted in the aircraft losing lift and striking trees. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A light aircraft descended too low while attempting to spray a small field, resulting in an inability to clear nearby trees after the plane lost lift.
What happened
The pilot was conducting agricultural operations over a confined area of farmland. The specific target zone was bounded by overhead wires on one side and a line of trees on the other. After descending toward the ground to perform the spraying task, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of lift, described by the pilot as "mushing." Despite immediate attempts to gain altitude, the airplane could not climb rapidly enough to clear the tops of the adjacent trees.
The investigation
Following the incident, the pilot provided a statement regarding the sequence of events. He confirmed that he was attempting to treat a very small section of the field. Crucially, the pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or system failures with the aircraft prior to or during the event. The loss of performance appeared to be aerodynamic in nature rather than mechanical.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and altitude during a low-level agricultural operation, which resulted in the aircraft losing lift and striking trees.