NTSB Factual Report

On June 30, 2013, about 0900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N7064Z, impacted high vegetation and terrain during a landing on a road near Boonville, Missouri. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage. The airplane was registered to co-owning individuals and was operated by Plane Cents Aviation LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The local flight originated about 0850, from the Jesse Viertel Memorial Airport (VER), near Boonville, Missouri.

According to the pilot's accident report, he was flying the airplane to a designated road near the field to be fertilized. The original road was unavailable and the pilot found a "north/south gravel road" he thought was a "suitable location for operations." He sent a text message and made low passes to advise the ground crew of the change in location. The pilot stated that he also evaluated the wing tip clearance to clear the corn during the low passes. During rollout, he looked right to ensure that the wing would clear the corn. He said that he felt the airplane "veer left 180 degrees and roll backwards into the corn, coming to a quick stop." The pilot reported that he deplaned and subsequently saw a small berm between the road and the crops, which the airplane "evidently hit as it was turning." The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage on impact with the berm and corn.

According to the attorney representing the pilot, they were not aware of any mechanical malfunction or failure that would have caused the loss of directional control during the landing.

At 0835, the recorded wind at VER was 320 degrees at 7 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing on a gravel road.