Piper PA-25-235 accident near Clarence, Missouri, July 12, 1993
On July 12, 1993 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N8906L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarence, Missouri. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD TO BE SPRAYED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1993 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Clarence, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N8906L · no longer on the register · serial 25-5367
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER SURVEYING FIELD FOR OBSTACLES, THE PILOT COMPLETED AN AG RUN ABOUT 105 MILES PER HOUR. THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO SHUT OFF THE SPRAY BOOMS BEFORE THE REQUIRED CHANGE IN ATTITUDE TO EXIT THE FIELD WAS MADE. WHILE LOOKING OVER THE RIGHT WING ROOT TO BE SURE THAT A TREE HAD BEEN CLEARED, SO HE WAS ABLE TO START AN AG-TURN, THE PILOT HEARD 'A SOUND SIMILAR TO A SAW BLADE IN A SAW MILL.' HE LOOKED FORWARD TO FIND THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES OF THE TREE HE THOUGHT HE HAD CLEARED BY 10 FEET OR MORE BEING SLUNG FROM THE PROPELLER. THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR, HOPPER, COWLING, PROPELLER, WINGS AND BOTTOM SKIN WERE DAMAGED AS THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP IN A PEA FIELD DURING A CONTROLLED CRASH LANDING.
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
- Flight time: 357 hours in all; 357 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from IRK, 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.