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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 20, 1996 · Grumman G-164A · N904X

Galesburg, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 20, 1996
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Galesburg, IL
Aircraft
Grumman G-164A
Tail Number
N904X
Operator
Harold S Flying Service
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI96LA310

The pilot of an aerial application flight was making a swath run next to an irregular field boundary. He said his airplane collided head-on with trees that protruded about 300 feet into the field. The airplane pitched up to a high angle of attack after the tree collision. Shortly thereafter, it collided with the trees a second time before striking the ground. The pilot said his reaction time was not as quick as it should have been.

NTSB Probable Cause

failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from trees that protruded into the field that he was spraying.

Full Narrative

On August 20, 1996, at 1110 central daylight time (cdt), a Grumman G-164A Agcat, N904X, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with trees and the ground. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed Kewanee, Illinois, at 1045 cdt. During an interview the pilot said he was trying to fly parallel to an uneven tree line next to the field he was going to spray. He said the airplane collided head-on with the trees. After the collision the pilot said he pitched the airplane up at a high angle of attack. Shortly after pitching up the airplane struck the trees a second time, followed by a collision with the ground. The pilot said this was his first accident during 39 years of flying. He said his reaction time was not as quick as it should have been. The pilot said the trees his airplane collided with protruded into the corn field about 300 feet from its border.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:10 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman G-164A
Tail NumberN904X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHarold S Flying Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-985-AN14B · Reciprocating · 450
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 56 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data