On August 13, 2003, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N8563L) was involved in an aviation accident near Sparta, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the inadvertent stall/spin encountered. The inadequate fuel supply, airspeed not being maintained, low altitude, and terrain were factors to the accident. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An agricultural airplane was destroyed during maneuvering when its engine stopped and it entered a spin. A witness observed the aircraft at low altitude before the engine suddenly ceased. No fuel was found at the crash site.
Accident Overview
The aircraft was destroyed when it struck the ground while maneuvering. At the time, the airplane was engaged in aerial application operations. The impact resulted in total destruction of the aircraft.
Witness Account
A witness reported seeing the airplane heading north at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above ground level. The witness believed the aircraft was departing the area after spraying nearby crops. As the witness began walking back to work, the engine noise suddenly stopped. Immediately afterward, the sound of the impact with the ground was heard. The witness stated that the engine had been running normally and did not sputter or backfire before the sudden stoppage.
Post-Accident Inspection
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuselage showed signs of rotational forces consistent with an aircraft spin. Additionally, no traces of aviation fuel were found in the airplane or surrounding the accident site.