Piper PA-25 accident near Columbia, North Carolina, August 21, 1994
On August 21, 1994 at about 3:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-25, registered N8819L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, 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 aircraft carburetor that resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1994 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25 · all PA-25s on the register
- Registration
- N8819L · registry record · serial 25-5323
- 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 PILOT STATED THAT DURING A SWATH RUN, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN THE FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING THE ROLL OUT, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT A PIECE OF METAL IN THE CARBURETOR HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM ITS WELD, AND JAMMED IN THE CARBURETOR CAUSING THE CARBURETOR TO FAIL.
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: 866 hours in all; 455 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 763 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,989 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1994; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE NC
- Destination: NONE NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:10 pm from MQI, 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.
Other NTSB records under N8819L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.