Piper PA-25-235 accident near Forest Grove, Oregon, April 24, 1993
On April 24, 1993 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N9637P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Forest Grove, Oregon. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE WET TERRAIN, TAILWIND, TREES, AND WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1993 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Forest Grove, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N9637P · no longer on the register · serial 25-7405806
- 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 IN COMMAND ATTEMPTED A NORTHERLY TAKEOFF ON A GRASS STRIP THAT WAS MUDDY AND WET. WINDS DURING THE AFTERNOON WERE SOUTHWESTERLY WITH SPEEDS IN THE TEENS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IT TOOK LONGER THAN USUAL TO BECOME AIRBORNE AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT FLY OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND A TELEPHONE LINE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,999 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,454 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1993; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from HIO, 9 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.