# NTSB FTW01LA203: Grumman G-164B, N48655, Lydia, LA, September 5, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 2001, 10:22 local (15:22 UTC) - Place: Lydia, LA - Location: 29.9263° N, 91.7813° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lydia, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9263&lon=-91.7813&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53181 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53181/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA203 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a marked tower while maneuvering. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - use of inappropriate medication/drug, pilot in command - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tower(marked) ## Analysis The agricultural airplane was observed maneuvering at 500 feet. The airplane then impacted a 500-foot tower, which was lighted and depicted on an aeronautical chart, with its left wing. The airplane traveled 700 feet from the tower base before impacting the ground. According to the operator, the pilot had accumulated approximately 15,000 total flight hours, of which approximately 11,000 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. A toxicological test detected 0.01 ug/ml cocaine, 0.212 ug/ml benzoylecgonine, and 0.296 ug/ml norfluoxetine in the pilot's blood. Benzoylecgonine is a metabolite of cocaine and norfluoxetine is a metabolite of fluoxetine, which is a prescription antidepressant medication also known by the trade name Prozac. The pilot had not reported using any medication on his last medical certificate application. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 2001, at 1022 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164B agricultural airplane, N48655, was destroyed when it impacted a tower and terrain while maneuvering near Lydia, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Detraz Flying Service of Abbeville, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed the Le Maire Memorial Airport, Jeanerette, Louisiana, at 1008. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane was observed maneuvering at 500 feet. The airplane then impacted a 500-foot tower, which was lighted and depicted on an aeronautical chart, with its left wing. The airplane traveled 700 feet from the tower base before impacting the ground. At 1053, the weather observation facility at the Acadiana Regional Airport (located 15 miles northwest of the accident site) reported broken clouds at 1,600 feet agl, 10 statute miles visibility, and a calm wind. According to the operator, the pilot had accumulated approximately 15,000 total flight hours, of which approximately 11,000 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. On his last FAA medical examination application, dated June 15, 2001, the pilot listed a total flight time accumulation of 15,500 hours. An autopsy was performed by the Jefferson Parish Forensic Center, Harvey, Louisiana. According to the autopsy report, the pilot died of "multiple blunt force traumatic injuries" sustained in an airplane crash. A toxicology test was performed by the Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with the following results: 0.01 ug/ml cocaine detected in blood 0.212 ug/ml benzoylecgonine detected in blood 0.352 ug/ml benzoylecgonine detected in liver 0.296 ug/ml norfluoxetine detected in blood norfluoxetine detected in kidney Benzoylecgonine is a metabolite of cocaine and norfluoxetine is a metabolite of fluoxetine, which is a prescription antidepressant medication also known by the trade name Prozac. Review of the pilot's last medical application revealed that the pilot did not report using any medication. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48655](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48655), registered now, S/N 102B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G-164B - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 102B - Engines: P&W PT-6-20 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Detraz Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: 2R1, Jeanerette, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 31, 1999; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 15,000 total, 11,000 in this make and model, 180 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: ARA, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010905024199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010905024199A), Sep 5, 2001: Scwzer G164B, Jeanerette, LA, No damage. (-23) Between loads, while maneuvering for unknown reasons, the aircraft struck a 500 foot lighted and charted transmission tower in the immediate vicinity of… 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.