Piper PA25 accident near Hartington, Nebraska, August 8, 2023
On August 8, 2023 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1971 Piper PA25, registered N8847L, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Hartington, Nebraska. 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 pilot’s misperception of the surrounding elevation resulting in a collision with crops and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2023 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hartington, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA25 235, built 1971 · all PA25s on the register
- Registration
- N8847L · no longer on the register · serial 25-5358
- 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 reported that while he maneuvered to apply agricultural product to a field, he did not perceive a higher slope of crops before making an application pass. The airplane’s landing gear became entangled in the crops and the pilot could not power the airplane free. The airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane’s left wing and empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions contributed to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Perception › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,354 hours in all; 238 in this make and model; 393 in the last 90 days; 229 in the last 30 days; 1,239 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 5, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Becker Flying Service INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from KSUX, 42 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSUX 081752Z 26004KT 7SM CLR 27/13 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP193 T02720133 10278 20117 58004=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 9, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.