Pilot Debrief

GRUMMAN G 164 near Marydel, DE — 2017-07-19

Final reportERA17LA249
Sign in to save
Date
2017-07-19
Location
Marydel, DE, USA
Aircraft
GRUMMAN G 164
Registration
N691Y
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from power lines while conducting an aerial application flight.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was performing an aerial application flight. He had just completed his first pass spraying a field when the airplane struck a set of power lines and impacted a field adjacent to the field that he was spraying, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot stated that he had no memory of the accident. Review of data downloaded from an onboard GPS unit was consistent with the airplane operating normally as it made a pass over the field and then initiating a climb near the power lines. The recorded data ended shortly after the airplane was on the opposite side of the power lines.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided power lines during approach to the field.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

Related mishaps