# NTSB FTW81FRG53: Grumman G-164A, N6655, Mercedes, TX, July 8, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: July 8, 1981
- Place: Mercedes, TX · MERCEDES, TX
- Location: 26.1538° N, 97.9129° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mercedes, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1538&lon=-97.9129&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 10, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124834
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FRG53
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRG53

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1353   81/7/8  NR.MERCEDES,TX        GRUMMAN G-164A      CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 2005                    N6655               PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 31, 4050 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1655 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WESLACO,TX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: PULLUP FROM SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - PILOT FATIGUE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1655                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  70                  SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - ENTRY TO PROCEDURE TURN
        REMARKS- HIT LWR WIRE WHILE WORKING UNDER PWR LN.PLT RPRTD-FATIGUED FM MNGMNT/FLT DUTIES.FLEW 12HRS,LAST 24
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6655](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6655-1983-01-31), registration cancelled 1983-01-31, S/N 778 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810708046149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810708046149A), Jul 8, 1981: Grumav G164A, Mercedes, TX, Substantial damage. Wing struck power-line on pullup for a turn-around. Airplane rolled over, struck ground inverted. Fatigue factor.

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.

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