Piper PA-25-235 accident near Delta, Utah, May 29, 1983
On May 29, 1983 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N6651Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delta, Utah. 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1983 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Delta, Utah · 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
- N6651Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-2250
- 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 ACFT COLLIDED WITH TWO POWER LINES ON A CLEAN UP SWATH RUN. THE ACFT ROLLED INVERTED AND STRUCK THE GROUND. THE FIELD BEING SPRAYED WAS BORDERED ON THE NORTH BY HIGHLY VISIBLE WIRES. THE WIRES THAT RAN ALONG THE EAST SIDE WERE NOT SO VISIBLE. THERE WAS ONE SPAN FROM EAST TO NORTH THAT WAS LONGER THAN USUAL MAKING THE WIRES STILL LESS APPARENT. WHILEFLYING SE THE ACFT STRUCK THE TWO WIRES IN THIS SPAN. ONE WIRE BROKE THE WINDSHIELD OF THE ACFT AND THE OTHER BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE LANDING GEAR. THE ACFT LOST AIRSPEED AND ROLLED INVERTED AS IT CONTINUED FORWARD AND DOWN.
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: 2,400 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,300 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 27, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°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.