Piper PA-36-285 accident near Petersburg, Texas, July 21, 2008
On July 21, 2008 at about 7:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-36-285, registered N57601, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Petersburg, Texas (Petersburg - Bertrand Spraying airport). 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
A partial loss of engine power due to the substandard and incomplete maintenance of the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2008 · about 7:38 pm local time
- Place
- Petersburg, Texas · Petersburg - Bertrand Spraying · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-36-285 · all PA-36-285s on the register
- Registration
- N57601 · no longer on the register · serial 36-7560134
- 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 experienced a partial power loss after takeoff, then crashed less than one mile southeast of the airport. A subsequent examination of the engine showed one magneto with a non-standard repair to a mounting lug; evidence of oil seepage in both magnetos; several spark plug electrodes excessively worn; a ruptured seal and oil seepage in the engine driven fuel pump; and corrosion, contaminants, and evidence of previous water contamination in several areas in the fuel system. Any of these discrepancies could have impacted the production of engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Maintenance/inspections › (general) › Not serviced/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Not serviced/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,450 hours in all; 545 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 2,380 as pilot in command; 850 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 13, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,415 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2008; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K165 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bertrand Spraying LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Petersburg TX at 7:30 pm
- Destination: Petersburg TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KLBB, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.