Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On June 2, 1993, at approximately 0640 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164B airplane, N48659, was destroyed upon impact with wires and terrain while maneuvering near Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight.
According to a relative of the operator, the airplane departed the Hicks Airstrip, near Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, with a load of pesticides earlier that morning. It was reported to him, that after reversing direction upon completion of the last pass, the airplane struck powerlines running across the perimeter of the field being sprayed. The pilot reported that he had been spraying this fiels for the last twienty years and was aware of the location of the powerlines.
The pilot suffered serious back injuries and did not complete NTSB Form 6120.1/2. No maintenance anomalies were reported by the pilot prior to the accident.
The wreckage was verbally released to the owner's representative by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector at the accident site.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW93LA172