# NTSB CHI01LA217: Grumman G-164A, N14AG, Mandan, ND, July 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 2001, 20:00 local (Jul 14, 2001, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Mandan, ND - Coordinates: 46.820392, -100.880317 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8204&lon=-100.8803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 53271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53271/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA217 ## Probable cause the pilot failed to maintain clearance from the powerline. Additional factors were the thermal lift and the powerline. ## 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 - weather condition - thermal lift (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing when it hit a powerline during aerial application. The pilot reported the weather was hot and humid and clouds were starting to build into thunderheads. He reported, "The air had moderate turbulence along the ground and visibility was good." He had been flying a racetrack pattern during the aerial application flight, passing under a set of powerlines many times. He reported, "As I approached the line, the top wing blocked out the line as I approached. I used the base of the tower as a reference point. The end of the field was about 400 feet to the front of the airplane. As I passed I felt the sensation of a rapid rise. I pushed the stick forward[.] There was no change. I pushed the stick hard to the stop I was still going up. Then I hit, I stood hard left rudder and still had the stick forward. After bouncing around the plane was nose down. I straightened out to level flight and flew a straight line to look at the structure of the plane. There was no vibration and nothing was missing." The pilot reported the landing was uneventful. The pilot reported the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction prior to the impact with the powerline. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2001, at 2000 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N14AG, sustained substantial damage to the right wing when it hit a powerline during aerial application. The airplane remained airborne and returned to the Mandan Municipal Airport (Y19), Mandan, North Dakota. The commercial pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight departed Y19 at 1900 on a local aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported the weather was hot and humid, and clouds were starting to build into thunderheads. He reported, "The air had moderate turbulence along the ground and visibility was good." He reported he had been flying a racetrack pattern during the aerial application flight, passing under a set of powerlines many times. He reported, "As I approached the line, the top wing blocked out the line as I approached. I used the base of the tower as a reference point. The end of the field was about 400 feet to the front of the airplane. As I passed I felt the sensation of a rapid rise. I pushed the stick forward[.] There was no change. I pushed the stick hard to the stop I was still going up. Then I hit, I stood hard left rudder and still had the stick forward. After bouncing around the plane was nose down. I straightened out to level flight and flew a straight line to look at the structure of the plane. There was no vibration and nothing was missing." The pilot reported he returned to Y19 and landed uneventfully. The pilot reported the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction prior to the impact with the powerline. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14AG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14AG-2024-10-08), registration cancelled 2024-10-08, S/N 1704, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman 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 R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1704 - Airframe hours: 4129 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Jamestown Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 2001, 57 hours before - Departed: Y19, MANDAN, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review April 29, 2001; seat: center; flight hours: 1,895 total, 158 in this make and model, 1,830 as pilot in command, 139 in the last 90 days, 122 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 100° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: BIS, 6 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 20010713017019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010713017019A), Jul 13, 2001: Scwzer G164A, Mandan, ND, No damage. (-23) On July 13, 2001 at 20:00, a Grumman G-164-A registered to ag-air inc encountered a wire strike during aerial application. VMC prevailed and no flight… 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.