Piper PA-25-235 accident near Iroquois, South Dakota, May 18, 1992
On May 18, 1992 at about 1:25 am local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N4427Y, was destroyed in an accident near Iroquois, South Dakota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN IMPROPER MANEUVER AND FAILURE TO ATTAIN LEVEL OFF BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1992 · about 1:25 am local time
- Place
- Iroquois, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N4427Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-4050
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES NEAR THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT SAW THE AIRPLANE PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS TO A WHEAT FIELD. THEY SAW THE AIRPLANE COMPLETE A SWATH RUN AND THEN DESCEND INTO THE TERRAIN AS IT TURNED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD. A REVIEW OF THE PILOTS LOG BOOK REVEALED MINIMAL EXPERIENCE CONDUCTING AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS.
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: 548 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 516 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1992; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.