Piper PA-25-235 accident near Preston, Maryland, June 2, 1989
On June 2, 1989, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N4497Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Preston, Maryland. 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
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH THE WHEAT CROP AS HE PASSED UNDER THE POWERLINE DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION SWATH RUN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1989
- Place
- Preston, Maryland · 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
- N4497Y · registry record · serial 25-4169
- 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 ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT TO SPRAY A FIELD WHICH CONTAINED A 3 TO 4 FT TALL WHEAT CROP. THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING THE SPRAYING OPERATION, HE FLEW UNDER POWER LINES WHICH CROSSED THE FIELD. WHEN DOING SO, THE MAIN GEAR CAUGHT THE WHEAT AND THE ACFT DESCENDED TOWARD THE TERRAIN. THE ACFT THEN NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,044 hours in all; 264 in this make and model; 292 in the last 90 days; 94 in the last 30 days; 1,002 as pilot in command; 317 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,354 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 24, 1989; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B285 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air AG, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Homer Schmidt MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N4497Y 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.