Piper PA-25 accident near Brandon, Wisconsin, August 19, 2003
On August 19, 2003 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25, registered N4346Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brandon, Wisconsin. 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 failed to maintain clearance from the corn crop during an aerial application maneuver. Additional factors were the terrain induced turbulence and the corn crop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2003 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brandon, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25 · all PA-25s on the register
- Registration
- N4346Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-4843
- 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 part 137 aerial application airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted the corn crop and terrain during a spray pass over the field. The pilot reported that approximately 70 gallons of chemical remained as he was making the aerial swath before the accident. He reported the winds were from the south at 9 knots gusting to 14 knots, and the temperature was 88 degrees Fahrenheit. He reported the airplane was descending over a treeline heading southbound when it experienced moderate turbulence. He reported that he was "unable to stop the descent before the airplane made contact with the corn." The airplane continued it's descent and the nose of the airplane impacted the ground and the airplane skidded to a stop. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction of the airplane prior 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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,191 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 5,123 as pilot in command; 570 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 14, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,277 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 2003; 273 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-G1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI07 Waupun Airport WI at 9:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from OSH, 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.