Piper PA-25-235 accident near Roxobel, North Carolina, August 13, 1991
On August 13, 1991 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N7658Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roxobel, North Carolina. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO STOP PIN, RESULTING IN THE SEIZURE OF THE MAGNETO AND THE FAILURE OF THE MAGNETO DRIVE GEAR, AND ULTIMATELY ENGINE STOPPAGE. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS: THE PRESENCE OF TREES AT THE FORCED LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1991 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Roxobel, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N7658Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-3800
- 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 AG PILOT WAS SETTING UP FOR AERIAL APPLICATION PASS WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT SUDDENLY. UNABLE TO GLIDE TO A CLEARED AREA, HE FORCE LANDED IN A WOODED AREA. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT AN IMPULSE COUPLING STOP PIN FROM THE LEFT MAGNETO HAD FAILED. THE MAGNETO SUBSEQUENTLY JAMMED, AND THE TEETH OF THE MAGNETO DRIVE GEAR IN THE ENGINE WERE SHEARED OFF. THIS RENDERED BOTH MAGNETOS INOPERATIVE, RESULTING IN THE ENGINE STOPPAGE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 2,017 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,349 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1990; 153 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASJ Ahoskie NC at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from RWI, 38 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.