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Accidents · NTSB CHI07LA254 · Final report

Piper PA-25-235 accident near Overly, North Dakota, August 2, 2007

On August 2, 2007 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N7263Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Overly, North Dakota. 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 failure to maintain terrain clearance during the agricultural application flight. Contributing to the accident was the wheat crop.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
August 2, 2007 · about 4:00 pm local time
Place
Overly, North Dakota
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
Registration
N7263Z · registry record · serial 25-3200
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 airplane was substantially damaged when it descended into a wheat field during an agricultural spray operation. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. He said that he was in a left turn executing a "clean-up" pass when the left spray boom contacted the crop resulting in the aiplane descending into the terrain.

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; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 3,103 hours in all; 607 in this make and model
  • Last flight review: April 1, 2007
  • Medical certificate: Class 2
  • Seat: ctr
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 6,774 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2007
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Overly ND at 4:00 pm
  • Flight plan: none

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 300° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
  • Observation at 3:54 pm from MOT

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.