Piper PA-25-235 accident near Morton, Texas, August 29, 1985
On August 29, 1985 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N4708Y, was destroyed in an accident near Morton, Texas. 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
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
- August 29, 1985 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Morton, Texas · 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
- N4708Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-4440
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE PLT COMPLETED A SWATH RUN, THE ACFT ENTERED A RGT CLIMBING MANEUVER, THEN ROLLED WINGS LEVEL. AFTER THAT, IT REPORTEDLY BEGAN AN ABRUPT CLIMB FOR APRX 50 TO 60 FT, THEN NOSED DOWN & CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT. AFTER IMPACT, THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE & THE PLT RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES FROM IMPACT, CHEMICALS & FIRE. A PERSON ON THE GROUND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS HANDS WHILE PULLING THE PLT FROM THE ACFT. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.179%. ALSO, MARIJUANA WAS DETECTED IN AN ALCOHOL SWAB. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. ON THE DATE OF THE PLT'S LAST MEDICAL EXAM (7/31/84), HE CERTIFIED HE HAD 350 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME.
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: 350 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Morton TX
- Destination: Morton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°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.