# NTSB CEN20CA347: Grumman G164, N48416, Scottsbluff, NE, August 18, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 18, 2020, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Scottsbluff, NE - Coordinates: 41.860404, -103.66091 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8604&lon=-103.6609&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor; on the ground: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO Lincoln - NTSB case key (mKey): 101814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA347 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101814/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101814 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA347 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of visual reference during agricultural low-level flight, resulting in collision with power lines. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot was flying the agricultural airplane, low-level, applying fertilizer to a field, and running parallel to power lines that bordered the field. When he finished the center of the field, he flew several cleanup passes on some of the edges of the field. He thought that the power lines were to the south of his position and stated that they blended into the tree line. As he came down into the field for a pass, his top wing blocked his forward view, and when he leveled out, he could not avoid the power lines in front of him. The airplane collided with the power lines and impacted the field which was adjacent to a roadway. The airplane came to rest inverted and sustained substantial damage to the wings, the fuselage, and empennage. As the power lines came down, they impacted a moving semi-truck, and pulled down adjacent power line poles. The pilot and the driver of the semi-truck sustained minor injuries. After the accident, the pilot stated that the accident could have been avoided if he had flown around the boarders to double check for obstacles. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48416](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48416-2021-03-30), registration cancelled 2021-03-30, S/N 22B, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G164 (B) - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22B - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 11125 - Engines: Honeywell TPE331-2-201A 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2020, 347 hours before - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 18,671 total, 5,946 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 2 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: BFF, 3 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 20200818012849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200818012849A), Aug 18, 2020: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B, Scottsbluff, NE, Destroyed. The pilot, after having sprayed the field in a direction parallel to the power lines, was attempting to spray some areas that were missed, which required… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101814. 13.7 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN20CA347 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11757898&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN20CA347_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Police report excerpts CEN20CA347 (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11758528&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Police%20Report%20Excerpts%20CEN20CA347_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN20CA347 (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12540261&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN20CA347-Rel.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.