# NTSB ATL98LA001: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N4983, Sylvania, GA, October 12, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 12, 1997, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Sylvania, GA
- Coordinates: 32.75, -81.629554 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7500&lon=-81.6296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3938
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3938/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA001

## Probable cause

The pilots failure to maintain clearance from transmission wires.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application
  - object - wire,transmission
  - clearance - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application
  - terrain condition - crop

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he was flying on a westerly magnetic heading, into the sun, and did not see the power lines prior to the collision. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

## Factual narrative

On October 12, 1997, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Grumman Schweizer Aircraft Corporation G-164A, N4983, collided with power lines during an aerial application swath run near Sylvania, Georgia.  The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the aerial application flight. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated at 1645 hours from a private strip in Sylvania, Georgia. 	 	According to the pilot, he was flying on a westerly magnetic heading, into the sun, and did not see the power lines prior to the collision. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

The inspector stated that the airplane was substantially damaged by impact, then destroyed by post impact fire.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4983](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4983-1998-08-28), registration cancelled 1998-08-28, S/N 1105 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1105
- Airframe hours: 1954
- Engines: P&W R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Robert E. Johnston
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 22, 1997, 20 hours before
- Departed: PVT, SYLVANIA, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,800 total, 150 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SAV, 60 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19971012038009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971012038009A), Oct 12, 1997: Scwzer G164A, Sylvania, GA, Substantial damage. 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…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.