Piper PA-25-235 accident near Sykeston, North Dakota, August 9, 1990
On August 9, 1990, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N4471Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sykeston, 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 INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO PERFORM A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1990
- Place
- Sykeston, North Dakota · map
- 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
- N4471Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-4126
- 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 IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FT AGL WHEN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED. THE PILOT STATED THE POWER LOSS WAS SUFFICIENT ENGOUGH TO PREVENT HIM FROM MAINTAINING ALTITUDE A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A MATURE WHEAT FIELD. DURING THE LANDING THE SPRAY BOOM CAUGHT THE WHEAT AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED WATER AND DIRT CONTAMINATION IN BOTH THE FUEL STRAINER AND CARBURETOR. THE ENGINE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY WHEN TESTED AFTER THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CLEANED OUT.
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: 751 hours in all; 196 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 680 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,335 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 1990; 50 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: ND47 New Rockford ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.
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.