On July 8, 1999, a Piper PA-25-260 (registration N8561L) operated by Double L Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Wallis, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An agricultural airplane lost engine power shortly after takeoff, leading to a forced landing in a cotton field. The pilot turned toward the field, and the aircraft descended, impacting the ground with its left wing before coming to rest upright. Subsequent engine tests revealed no anomalies.
Accident Summary
An agricultural airplane encountered a loss of engine power shortly after departing from the operator's private airstrip. The pilot initiated a turn toward a nearby cotton field, and the aircraft began to descend into the field. During the landing, the left wing struck the ground, causing the airplane to rotate 180 degrees before it came to rest in an upright position.
Engine Examination
Following the accident, the operator conducted two test runs of the engine. The tests did not identify any anomalies that would have prevented the engine from operating normally. The cause of the power loss remains undetermined based on the post-accident examination.