EDMONSON, TX, USA
N4979Y
PIPER PA-25
THE PILOT HAD BEEN SPRAYING THE FIELD FOR ABOUT 1 HR AND WAS ON THE LAST PASS. THE OWNER/FLAGGER STATED THAT HE HAD WARNED THE PILOT (BY USING A TWO WAY RADIO) TO WATCH OUT FOR A STANDPIPE AND RADIO ANTENNA, AND THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED. HE REPORTED THE PLANE WAS ON ITS LAST PASS AND APPEARED TO BE HIGH ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE ANTENNA. IN THE VICINITY OF THE ANTENNA, HE OBSERVED THE PLANE PULL UP STEEPLY, ROLL TO THE RIGHT, THEN GO DOWN AND IMPACT THE GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLANE CRASHED ABOUT 125 FT BEYOND A FIBERGLASS WHIP ANTENNA. THE ANTENNA WAS ABOUT 1 INCH IN DIAMETER AT ITS BASE AND TAPERED TO VERY THIN AT THE TOP, ABOUT 75 TO 85 FT AGL. ABOUT 12 FT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TOP OF THE ANTENNA. AFTER IMPACTING THE GROUND, THE PLANE BURNED AND WAS DEMOLISHED. NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE PILOT DIED ABOUT 10 MIN AFTER BEING REMOVED FROM THE BURNING PLANE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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