What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Flew into powert line during a spray run. Blamed blinded by sun. (-23) on October 10, 1997, Mr. Robert k. johnston was piloting Grumman aircraft engineering model G-164A, N4983, during the dispersal of agricultural chemicals near Sylvania, GA. At approximately 1700 hrs. Local time the aircraft struck power lines that crossed the field that Mr. Johnston was working. After striking the wires the aircraft continued in the westerly direction that it was originally headed and came to rest approximately 500 ft. beyond the power lines, in an upright position, with the nose pointed to the east. Substantial damage was sustained from the crash with the aircraft then being destroyed by the post crash fire. Mr. Johnston escaped with minor injuries. No other people were involved in the accident and damage to the cotton crop being treated was minimal.
As the FAA filed it
FLEW INTO POWERT LINE DURING A SPRAY RUN. BLAMED BLINDED BY SUN. (-23) ON OCTOBER 10, 1997, MR. ROBERT K. JOHNSTON WAS PILOTING GRUMMAN AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING MODEL G-164A, N4983, DURING THE DISPERSAL OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS NEAR SYLVANIA, GA. AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 HRS. LOCAL TIME THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES THAT CROSSED THE FIELD THAT MR. JOHNSTON WAS WORKING. AFTER STRIKING THE WIRES THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED IN THE WESTERLY DIRECTION THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY HEADED AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 500 FT. BEYOND THE POWER LINES, IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, WITH THE NOSE POINTED TO THE EAST. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED FROM THE CRASH WITH THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEING DESTROYED BY THE POST CRASH FIRE. MR. JOHNSTON ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES. NO OTHER PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT AND DAMAGE TO THE COTTON CROP BEING TREATED WAS MINIMAL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.