Piper PA-25 accident near Anthony, Kansas, March 28, 1983
On March 28, 1983 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-25, registered N8547L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anthony, Kansas. 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
- March 28, 1983 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Anthony, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25 · all PA-25s on the register
- Registration
- N8547L · no longer on the register · serial 25-4967
- 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 AIRCRAFT CRASHED DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER ENGINE FAILURE. IT WAS DETERMINED DURING INSPECTION AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT THE FUEL REMAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOSTLY WATER. THE PILOT DURING PREFLIGHT HAD DRAINED THE FUEL SUMPS AND DID NOT FIND ANY WATER. THE ENGINE WAS RUN FOR 30 MINUTES ON THE GROUND AND 1 1/2 HOURS IN THE AIR BEFORE STOPPING. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE SUPPLY SOURCE TO BE EQUIPED WITH FILTERS THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE FLOW OF WATER THROUGH THEIR SERVICE HOSES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE RAIN FOR TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT.
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: 6,000 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8K2 Harper KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°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.
Other NTSB records under N8547L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.