Piper PA-25-235 accident near Clayton, Kansas, June 18, 1989
On June 18, 1989 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N8846L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clayton, 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1989 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Clayton, Kansas · 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
- N8846L · registry record · serial 25-53-57
- 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 PILOT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING SWATH RUNS IN AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAY OPERATION. HE WAS MAKING A PROCEDURE TURN-AROUND TO FINISH UP THE FIELD WITH THE REMAINING CHEMICAL. ABOUT HALF-WAY THRU THE TURN THE PILOT REPORTEDLY ENCOUNTERED UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ALTITUDE AND IMPACT WITH RISING TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED CHANGING WINDS AND DOWNDRAFTS IN THE AREA DURING THE SWATH RUNS. OFFICAL WX RECORDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO CONFIRM THE WIND CONDITIONS. NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCY WAS NOTED WITH THE AIRPLANE DURING POST ACCIDENT EXAM.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,648 hours in all; 244 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,533 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,567 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1989; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Norcatur KS at 7:00 pm
- Destination: Clayton KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.