STRATTON, CO, USA
N9801P
PIPER PA-25-235
WHILE CONDUCTING HIS FIRST SPRAY RUN ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST HIS DESCENT AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND. HE ADDED FULL POWER AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE AIRCRAFT AIRBORNE, BUT IT WOULD NEITHER ACCELERATE NOR CLIMB. AFTER TRANSITING ABOUT ONE HALF MILE ACROSS THE FIELD BEING WORKED, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES AND CARTWHEELED. CALCULATIONS PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 400 POUNDS OVER MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF WHICH WAS ABOUT 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
On July 15, 1995, at 1515 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-25- 235, N9801P, collided with power lines 14 miles northeast of Stratton, Colorado. The pilot was not injured and the aircraft was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Joes, Colorado, about 15 minutes prior to the accident. According to the pilot, he entered the field for his first spray pattern over power lines and was unable to stop his descent. The landing gear struck the ground and the pilot said he added full power and got airborne but was unable to accelerate or climb. The pilot stated he went for about one half mile where the aircraft struck power lines at the other end of the field and cartwheeled. According to the FAA inspector who went on scene, the aircraft maximum allowable gross weight of 2,900 pounds was exceeded by 400 pounds at takeoff, which was about 15 minutes before the accident.
THE PILOT'S EXCESSIVE RATE OF DESCENT AS HE INITIATED THE SWATH RUN AND OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT OVER THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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