# NTSB FTW88DRD13: Grumman G-164A, N8512H, Kinder, LA, July 14, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: July 14, 1988, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Kinder, LA
- Coordinates: 30.480325, -92.840751 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4803&lon=-92.8408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22497
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DRD13
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22497/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DRD13

## 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 - other person (contributing factor)
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, ground personnel (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - window,canopy - dirty(foggy) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING A FUNGICIDE ON THE FIELD AND THE OWNER OF THE FIELD WAS FLAGGING FOR HIM, ON THE TOP OF A DIKE, ON THE WEST END OF THE FIELD. DURING NORMAL OPERATION, THE FLAGMAN STAYED IN POSITION UNTIL THE AIRPLANE WAS 300 FEET AWAY, AT WHICH TIME HE WOULD MOVE 16 STEPS NORTH FOR THE NEXT RUN. THE FLAGMAN, WITH HIS UMBRELLA, WAS 12 FEET ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE FIELD. HE HAD MOVED 8 STEPS WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY THE END OF THE RIGHT SPRAY BOOM. THE PILOT SAID A SPRAY RESIDUE ON THE WINDSHIELD MIGHT HAVE OBSCURED HIS VIEW DURING THE START OF HIS TURN-AROUND. THE FLAGMAN SUFFERED A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8512H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1389
- Airframe hours: 4898
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: O'Briens Flying Service
- Registered owner: O Brien Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 18, 1988, 840 hours before
- Airport: NONE, Manuel Brothers Airstrip, runway 27, 3,000 × 150 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 17,000 total, 14,000 in this make and model, 16,800 as pilot in command, 500 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LCH, 31 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 19880714038609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880714038609A), Jul 14, 1988: Scwzer G164A, Kinder, LA, Minor damage. Aircrafts spray boom struck flagman and his umbrella during pullup on a spray run. Flagman was moving to next place

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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