# NTSB CEN13LA422: Grumman Aircraft Cor-Schweizer G-164A, N8719H, Elmira, MI, July 17, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 2013, 16:25 local (20:25 UTC) - Place: Elmira, MI - Coordinates: 45.059253, -84.850608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0593&lon=-84.8506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA422 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87521/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87521 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA422 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a line of trees while applying agricultural product to a field. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was applying agricultural product on a field, flying toward a line of trees that were about 60 feet in height. The airplane had been loaded with about 200 gallons of chemical, of which about 100 gallons had already been sprayed. Upon completion of the spray run, the airplane impacted the tree line. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 2013, about 1625 eastern daylight time, a Grumman Aircraft Cor-Scweizer G-164A, N8719H, impacted trees and terrain during an aerial application of an agricultural field. The airplane was consumed by a post impact fire and sustained substantial damage. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by SLF Air LLC under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight and was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight originated from Gaylord Regional Airport, Gaylord, Michigan, about 1555. The airplane was loaded with about 200 gallons of chemical, of which about 100 gallons had been sprayed. The pilot sprayed a field in an easterly direction and towards a tree line, which was about 60 feet in height, when the airplane impacted the trees. The wreckage path through the tree was about 150 feet. The airplane came to rest inverted and facing toward the west. A post impact fire burned an area of about 100 feet around the main wreckage. The propeller blades were "curved." On-scene examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no mechanical anomalies. A National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report was not received from the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8719H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8719H-2018-03-27), registration cancelled 2018-03-27, S/N 1489, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AIRCRAFT COR-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) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1489 - Year built: 1975 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: SLF Air LLC - Registered owner: SLF Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: 4Y4, Gaylord, MI - Destination: 4Y4, Gaylord, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: center; flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: GLR, 12 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 20130717013789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130717013789A), Jul 17, 2013: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, Elmira, MI, Destroyed. On 7/17/2013 N8719H a gruman 164A crashed at 1630 local near Elmira, MI. The aircraft was piloted by [privacy data omitted], commercial pilot certificate… ## Other investigations on N8719H (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 ATL83LA147](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA147), Mar 30, 1983: Grumman G164 A (N8719H), New Church, VA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87521. 439 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Request to Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404796&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Request%20to%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 250 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40405284&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404797&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Owner of Agricultural Operation (item 4, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Owner%20of%20Agricultural%20Operation-Master.PDF 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.