Accident Piper PA-25-235 N6763Z,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 366612
 
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Date:Wednesday 11 July 1990
Time:09:25 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic PA25 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Piper PA-25-235
Owner/operator:Turf Soaring School
Registration: N6763Z
MSN: 25-2384
Total airframe hrs:5044 hours
Engine model:LYCOMING O-540-B2B5
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Pleasant Valley, AZ -   United States of America
Phase: Initial climb
Nature:Unknown
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
THE PILOT OBSERVED THAT THE TOW PLANE WAS DIRTY SO HE WASHED IT. THE PILOT FAILED TO SECURE THE TWO ENGINE COWL DOORS. DURING INITIAL CLIMB, WITH A GLIDER IN TOW, THE DOORS BEGAN FLOPPING UP AND DOWN. THE GLIDER PILOT OBSERVED THE MISHAP, RELEASED THE TOW LINE AND SAFELY LANDED. THE TOW PLANE PILOT REVERSED COURSE TO RETURN FOR LANDING. THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT WHILE REVERSING COURSE THE AIRPLANE'S PITCH ATTITUDE STEEPENED. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SPUN UNTIL CRASHING ON DESERT TERRAIN ADJACENT TO THE AIRSTRIP.

Probable Cause: AN INADVERTENT SPIN AFTER FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. FACTORS INCLUDE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT, AND AN IMPROPERLY MAINTAINED LAP BELT.

Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: LAX90FA250
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 2 years and 5 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB LAX90FA250

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
21-Mar-2024 10:17 ASN Update Bot Added

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