Piper PA-25 accident near Sullivan, MO
On June 7, 1997, a Piper PA-25 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Sullivan, MO. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 7, 1997
- Place
- Sullivan, MO
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 38.209°N, 91.160°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08076
NTSB summary
On June 7, 1997, about 0930 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25, N6339Z, received substantial damage on impact with a FM radio tower. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane impacted a guy wire approximately 30' below the top of the 971' tall tower located 9 miles southeast of Sullivan, Missouri. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed Saint Charles, Missouri, at 0830 for re-positioning to an undetermined location. Witnesses at the accident site stated at the time of the accident, visibility at the surface, was restricted to one-quarter mile in fog. Witnesses stated that the pilot who was the operator of "Cloud 9 Soaring" which operated out of the Sullivan Airport, rented the airplane with the intention of towing a banner. A flight instructor at Washington, Missouri, reported on the morning of June 8, 1997, that he found a banner used by Cloud 9 soaring set up at the Washington Municipal Airport. Washington Municipal Airport is located 28 miles southwest of Saint Charles. The Sullivan Airport is located 49 miles southwest of Saint Charles. The tower and accident site is located 52 miles southwest of Saint Charles, and 10 miles southeast of the Sullivan Airport. The operator where the pilot rented the airplane said that the airplane was rented with the fuel tanks full. A witness who was at the Sullivan Airport on June 7, 1997, stated that at 0930 there was a 200 foot overcast. A witness across the road from the tower said that about 0900 to 1000 he heard a low flying airplane, but that he could not see the airplane because of restricted visibility due to fog.
Probable cause
the pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for flight into IMC. Factors were: the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, his inadequate evaluation of the weather, and fog.
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Browse: Missouri · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
