Event CEN16LA255

Factual narrative

On July 3, 2016, about 1650 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N6803Z, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff from runway 27 (2,500 feet by 50 feet, turf) at a private airstrip in Arlington, Wisconsin. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Kazs Flying Service, Ltd. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.The pilot reported that the airplane settled into a corn field about one-quarter mile west of the airstrip after takeoff. The airplane was operating at the maximum gross takeoff weight. He stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane preceding the accident. He informed a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the engine was running "fine" and there were no flight control anomalies at the time of the accident. Weather conditions at the Dane County Regional Airport, located about 13 miles south of the accident site, at 1653, included: wind from 090 degrees at 10 knots; temperature 24 degrees Celsius; dew point 11 degrees Celsius; and altimeter 30.01 inches of mercury. The preceding observation, at 1553, included: wind from 110 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots; temperature 25 degrees Celsius; dew point 12 degrees Celsius; and altimeter 30.03 inches of mercury. The associated density altitudes were about 2,117 feet and 2,219 feet, respectively. The pilot noted that the airstrip was about 1,060 feet elevation and the prevailing wind was from the east (090 degrees) at 5 knots, with gusts to 18 knots. The temperature was about 30 degrees Celsius. Based on these conditions, the associated density altitude was about 3,020 feet. The commercial pilot reported that he was conducting an agricultural application flight with the airplane at its maximum gross takeoff weight. He added that, after taking off toward the west, the airplane settled into a cornfield. He stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane preceding the accident, that the engine was running "fine," and that there were no flight control anomalies at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the prevailing wind was from the east gusting to 18 knots, which resulted in a gusting tailwind during the takeoff. The density altitude was calculated to be about 3,000 ft. It is likely that the combined effects of the airplane operating at its maximum gross weight, the elevated density altitude, and the gusting tailwind resulted in the airplane becoming airborne at an airspeed that could not be maintained outside of ground effect. The pilot subsequently failed to maintain the proper angle-of-attack as he attempted to climb the airplane out of ground effect, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained - C
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation
• — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-High density altitude-Effect on operation
• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Maximum weight-Not specified