- Date
- June 2, 2006, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Alex, OK
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8225KGrumman G-164B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report October 3, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FSDO, Oklahoma City, OK
- FAA report
- 20060602010489A
- Case key
- 63825
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's failure to maintain clearance from the power transmission line(s). A contributing factor was the low altitude selected by the pilot.
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 single-engine agricultural airplane collided with a set of power transmission lines while performing an aerial application flight. The 15,000-hour pilot sustained serious injuries and the airplane was destroyed. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot stated that prior to the accident the airplane was operating "fine." However, the pilot added that he had "no recollection" of the accident. The FAA inspector reported that there were two sets of wires, a small local line and a set of tall, high-power transmission lines. The pilot also told the inspector that the normal practice for them was to fly over both lines before descending to perform the application run. The FAA inspector reported that he found a portion of the lower right wing resting near the location of the high power lines. The visibility at the time of the accident was reported at 10 statute miles, with no obstructions.
Factual narrative
The single-engine agricultural airplane collided with a set of power transmission lines while performing an aerial application flight. The 15,000-hour pilot sustained serious injuries and the airplane was destroyed. During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot stated that prior to the accident the airplane was operating "fine." However, the pilot added that he had "no recollection" of the accident. The FAA inspector reported that there were two sets of wires, a small local line and a set of tall, high-power transmission lines. The pilot also told the inspector that the normal practice for them was to fly over both lines before descending to perform the application run. The FAA inspector reported that he found a portion of the lower right wing resting near the location of the high power lines. The visibility at the time of the accident was reported as 10 statute miles, with no obstructions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8225K
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 619b
- Airframe hours
- 4,415
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 1, 2006
- Departed
- CHK · Chickasha, OK
- Destination
- OK
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
- 61
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 1, 2006
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 14,000 as pilot in command · 210 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Wind
- 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
- Observed at
- chk
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.