Piper PA-25-235 accident near Lamesa, Texas, March 15, 1994
On March 15, 1994 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N8739L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lamesa, Texas. 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 INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS THE GUST OF WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 1994 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lamesa, Texas · 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
- N8739L · registry record · serial 25-5204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE DOWNWIND TURN OF AN AERIAL APPLICATION PASS, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A FIELD AND BURNED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE 'PULLED BACK ON THE STICK RESULTING IN A STALL.' THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,497 hours in all; 530 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,457 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2CE (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Q26 Brownfield TX at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; not recorded at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MAF, 45 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.