Piper PA-25-235C accident near Bainbridge, Georgia, September 2, 1991
On September 2, 1991 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235C, registered N4393Y, was destroyed in an accident near Bainbridge, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM OBJECTS WHILE PRACTICING AERIAL APPLICATION PROCEDURES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1991 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bainbridge, Georgia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235C · all PA-25-235Cs on the register
- Registration
- N4393Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-4904
- 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 WAS PRACTICING AERIAL APPLICATION PROCEDURES WHEN HE MISJUDGED HIS CLEARANCE AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE DISCLOSED THAT THE PILOT HAD TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 45 FEET PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE TREES. THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED INVERTED AND BURNED DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO REVEAL MECHANICAL OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS.
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: 300 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,082 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 8, 1991; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Harrell'S Aviation Serv., INC.
The flight
- Departed from: BGE Bainbridge GA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:48 pm from ABY, 25 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.