Pilot Debrief

GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164B near Colusa, CA — 2023-06-04

Final reportWPR23LA212
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Date
2023-06-04
Location
Colusa, CA, USA
Aircraft
GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164B
Registration
N6750K
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported this was the eighth aerial application flight of the day spraying rice fields. He had made all takeoff’s flying low under a power line about 3/4 mile from the departure end of the runway. He stated that due to the monotony of the flights combined with fatigue and a bi-plane wing configuration, he lost sight of the power line and struck it. The airplane impacted the ground and cartwheeled sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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