# Accident 20110205002429A: Grumman Acf G-164B, Buttonwillow, CA, February 5, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 5, 2011, 09:30 local time
- Place: Buttonwillow, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 35.4558° N, 119.5800° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4558&lon=-119.5800&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6725K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6725K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (registry code 3952802, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN ACF G-164B
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 17,000 total, 450 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11CA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110205002429A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON 02-05-2011, 9.30AM (LOCAL) AN AERIAL APPLICATOR ,  WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION,  HIT A STANDPIPE (IRRIGATION PIPE) WITH ITS PROPELLER.  THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS LAYING DOWN SMOKE TO IDENTIFY THE WIND DIRECTION FOR DRIFT DETERMINING PURPOSE.THE AIRCRAFT MADE A LOW PASS OVER THE FIELD, THE PILOT OBSERVED SEVERAL STANDPIPES IN THE FIELD. ONCE HE COMPLETED THE LOW PASS HE IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO LAY SMOKE AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 20 FT AGL WHEN HE HIT A STANDPIPE WITH ITS PROPELLER. THE PILOT MAINTAINED CONTROL OVER THE AIRCRAFT AND TRIED TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON THE AJAR DIRT ROAD.  ONCE THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE DIRT ROAD THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT MAIN GEAR WENT OF THE SIDE OF THE DIRT ROAD HITTING SOFT DIRT AND THE AIRCRAFT OVERTURNED SLIDING TO A STOP INVERTED. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT  DURING THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THE PILOT DID NOT PERFORM A HIGH OR PROPER LOW RECON OF THE FIELD CAUSING THE PILOT TO NOT HAVE OBSERVED ALL HAZARDS IN THE FIELD. THE OPERATOR INFORMED US THAT DURING NORMAL OPERATIONS A GROUND SPOTTER WOULD HELP WITH THE IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL HAZARDS ON  THE FIELD TO BE SPRAYED.  AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE AIRCRAFT GROUND SPOTTER HAD NOT ARRIVED YET, AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUED WITH THE OPERATION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR11CA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA128), Feb 5, 2011: Schweizer G-164B (N6725K), Buttonwillow, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an irrigation vent pipe.

## Other reports on N6725K (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19900608019559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900608019559A), Jun 8, 1990: Scwzer G164B (N6725K), Buttonwillow, CA, Destroyed. NR7 cylinder failed on the radial engine. Lost power and impacted ground very hard and burned. Was on a turn around
- [Accident 19870729040119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870729040119A), Jul 29, 1987: Scwzer G164B (N6725K), Taft, CA, Substantial damage. Left wing struck a standpipe landing on a ag strip. Impact whirled aircraft around and collapsed the landing gear.
- [Accident 19780920027719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780920027719A), Sep 20, 1978: Gulstm G164A (N6725K), Robbins, CA, Substantial damage

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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