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Accidents · NTSB ATL82DA101 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-25-235D accident near Baxley, Georgia, April 15, 1982

On April 15, 1982 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235D, registered N90856, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baxley, Georgia (Baxley Municipal airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
April 15, 1982 · about 2:30 pm local time
Place
Baxley, Georgia · Baxley Municipal · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-25-235D · all PA-25-235Ds on the register
Registration
N90856 · registry record · serial 25-8156003
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 75 FT AGL. THE PILOT JETTISONED HIS LOAD OF PESTICIDE AND LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. THE PLANE CONTINUED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, RAN INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH, AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, WATER WAS FOUND IN ALL FUEL DRAINS AND IN THE CARBURETOR.

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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: unk

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 30J Baxley GA at 9:30 am
  • Destination: 30J Baxley GA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 7, 3,800 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 7 statute miles
  • Sky: not recorded; not recorded
  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Other NTSB records under N90856 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

1984-05-05ATL84LA163 · accident near Jesup, GA · destroyed · minor injuries

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.