# NTSB CHI02LA095: Schweizer G-164A, N9763, Cascade, IA, March 20, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 2002, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Cascade, IA - Coordinates: 42.289497, -90.999809 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2895&lon=-90.9998&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54385/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54385 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA095 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and his failure to maintain clearance with the wire. A factor associated with the accident was the wire that the airplane contacted. ## 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,static (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane contacted a wire and collided with the terrain during an aerial application flight. The purpose of the flight was to drop seed along a section of highway that had recently been under construction. The airplane had taken off from the highway and was heading east to drop seed when the accident occurred. There were two sets of wires which crossed over the highway. Both sets of wires were perpendicular to the highway. The first set was approximately 40 feet above the ground and the second set was approximately 30 feet above the ground. The airplane traveled under the first wire. As the airplane was traveling under the second wire, the leading edge of the top left wing contacted the wire. The airplane then descended and impacted the terrain on the highway median. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 2002, at 1230 central standard time, a Schweizer G-164A, N9763, operated by Todd's Flying Service, Inc., collided with wires and the terrain during an aerial application flight along highway 151 just west of Cascade, Iowa. The commercial pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damage. The CFR 14 Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated in Cascade, Iowa, about 1225. The purpose of the flight was to drop seed along a section of Highway 151 that had recently been under construction. The airplane had taken off from the highway and was heading east to drop seed when the accident occurred. There were two sets of wires which crossed over the highway. Both sets of wires were perpendicular to the highway. The first set was approximately 40 feet above the ground, and the second set was approximately 30 feet above the ground. The airplane traveled under the first wire. As the airplane was traveling under the second wire, the leading edge of the top left wing contacted the wire. The airplane then descended and impacted the terrain on the highway median. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9763](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9763-2013-05-30), registration cancelled 2013-05-30, S/N 1251, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: 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: 1251 - Airframe hours: 6041 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Todds Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 2002, 25 hours before - Departed: Cascade, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 18, 2000; seat: center; flight hours: 12,960 total, 5,500 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 1 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: MXO, 5 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 20020320007749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020320007749A), Mar 20, 2002: Scwzer G164A, Cascade, IA, No damage. (-23) While seeding the median between a new section of highway 151 in northeastern Iowa, 2 miles south and west of Cascade, Iowa, aircraft struck power wires… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54385. 271 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394888&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.