- Date
- August 4, 2005, 07:40 local (12:40 UTC)
- Place
- Buchanan, ND
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6858QGrumman G-164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 31, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Fargo FSDO
- FAA report
- 20050804024669A
- Case key
- 62295
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain obstacle clearance from the power lines. Factors included the glare on the windshield and the power lines.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The agricultural spray airplane was destroyed by post impact fire after it hit a power line and impacted the terrain. The pilot reported that he had sprayed one cornfield and was starting to spray another 20-acre cornfield. He reported that he flew over the field and observed power lines. He reported that he had sprayed the same cornfield the year before and had flown under the power lines without incident. He made one pass flying east, and then another pass flying west. He reported that during the third pass flying to the east, the airplane struck the wires. He reported that his vision was obstructed by glare on the windshield. The airplane impacted the ground and caught on fire. The pilot was able to exit the airplane before it was consumed by fire. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane prior to the impact with the wires.
Factual narrative
On August 4, 2005, at 0740 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N6858Q, was destroyed by post impact fire after the airplane hit a power line and impacted the terrain near Buchanan, North Dakota. The commercial pilot received serious injuries. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight departed from a private airstrip at 0700 on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he had sprayed one cornfield and was starting to spray another 20-acre cornfield. He reported that he flew over the field and observed power lines. He reported that he had sprayed the same cornfield the year before and had flown under the power lines without incident. He made one pass flying east, and then another pass flying west. He reported that during the third pass flying to the east, the airplane struck the wires. He reported his vision was obstructed by glare on the windshield. The airplane impacted the ground and caught on fire. The pilot was able to exit the airplane before it was consumed by fire.
The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane prior to the impact with the wires.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6858Q
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1723
- Airframe hours
- 2,797
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R 985-AN-14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Robert Sprague
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 2004 · 381 hours before
- Departed
- Courtenay, ND
- Destination
- Courtenay, ND
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2004
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,170 total · 400 in this make and model · 2,145 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.19 inHg
- Observed at
- JMS, 15 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.