Piper PA-25-235 accident near Lincoln, Tennessee, October 30, 1984
On October 30, 1984 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N9855P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln, Tennessee. 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
- October 30, 1984 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N9855P · no longer on the register · serial 25-7556179
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS MAKING A SWATH RUN SPRAYING CROPS WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITH 200 YARDS OF LEVEL FIELD REMAINING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE PLT TURNED THE ACFT TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH TREES. DURING THE TURN THE NOSE OF THE ACFT DUG INTO THE GROUND CAUSING THE ACFT TO NOSE OVER. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE MAGNETO COUPLING WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT ROTATE. FURTHER INSPECTION DISCLOSED EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE PAWLS AND WORN STRIKER PINS AND SHAFT SPLINES. ACCORDING TO THE ACFT LOGBOOKS, AD 78-09-07 & AD 82-20-01 HAD BEEN COMPLIED WITH, 19 FLT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACIDENT. HOWEVER, THE MAKE, MODEL, & SERIAL NUMBER OF THE MAGNETOS WERE NOT ENTERD AS REQUIRED.
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: 3,755 hours in all; 894 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hazel Green AL at 9:37 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.