Piper PA-25-235 accident near Blakely, Georgia, June 5, 2001
On June 5, 2001 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N9890P, was destroyed in an accident near Blakely, Georgia (Private Airstrip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight decision to go-around after a reported loss of right brake pressure during the landing roll resulted in the in-flight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2001 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Blakely, Georgia · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N9890P · no longer on the register · serial 257405709
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had flown to a nearby field to apply fertilizer but elected to return to the airstrip behind his home due to thunderstorm activity in the immediate vicinity of the planned spray operation. Upon arriving at the home airstrip, the pilot established an approach to land on runway 15. After touchdown, the pilot reported that he applied both brakes to stop the airplane. During the braking action the right brake suddenly failed. He stated he was unable to stop the airplane with the left brake. With approximately 800 feet of runway surface remaining, the pilot elected to abort the landing and chose to take off. During the attempted takeoff, the airplane cleared a fence and flew under power lines. The airplane collided with trees approximately 500 feet from the runway as the pilot maneuvered to avoid a collision with his home. After the airplane collided with the trees, it rolled inverted, fell to the ground, and burst into flames. Examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that the airframe sustained extensive fire damage. Reportedly, the fire destroyed the right wheel brake assembly and it was not functionally examined. According to Piper 25-235 performance data, at the landing and stall speed of 46 mph, the landing roll at gross weight is about 850 feet.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,220 hours in all; 2,880 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 3,160 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,197 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 7, 2001; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Blakely GA at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from DHN, 31 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.