Piper PA-25-235 accident near Burns, Oregon, June 27, 1985
On June 27, 1985 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N6647Z, was destroyed in an accident near Burns, Oregon. 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
- June 27, 1985 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Burns, Oregon · 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
- N6647Z · no longer on the register · serial 252245
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AERIAL APPLICATIONS THE PILOT CLEARED A RISE, GOT A DOWN DRAFT, STRUCK TREES AND THEN STALLED STRIKING THE GROUND WITH LITTLE FORWARD MOTION. AN INTENSE EXPLOSION AND FIRE FOLLOWED. THE FIRE ORIGIN WAS IN THE AREA OF THE FIBERGLASS FUEL TANK. AN OPTIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT WITH A RUBBER FUEL CELL LINER HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FOR YEARS FOR THIS AIRCRAFT, BUT THIS AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE ORIGINAL FIBERGLASS FUEL TANK.
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: 1,521 hours in all; 1,521 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 1,205 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,881 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 13, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Burns OR
- Destination: Burns OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from BNO, 32 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.