# NTSB FTW93LA167: Grumman G-164B, N8405K, Stuttgart, AR, May 26, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 1993, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Stuttgart, AR - Coordinates: 34.490783, -91.550811 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4908&lon=-91.5508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 17, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18757 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18757/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA167 ## Probable cause PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. ## 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 - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,static - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis DURING AERIAL APPLICATION 0PERATIONS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDER SOME ELECTRICAL POWER LINES WHEN HIS RIGHT WING CONTACTED A STATIC LINE. FOLLOWING THE WIRE CONTACT THE RIGHT WING STRUT COLLAPSED, THE RIGHT WING FOLDED UPWARD AND THE AIRPLANE ROLLED LEFT AND CLIMBED TO 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED FROM 200 FEET IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 1993, at approximately 0930 central daylight time, a Grumman G 164B, N8405K, was destroyed upon ground impact after an in flight collision with wires while maneuvering during an aerial application operation near Stuttgart, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he was maneuvering under a power line when his airplane came into contact with a static wire. He further reported in a written statement that when he contacted the wire with the upper right wing it cut the wing strut causing "the wing to raise up." He stated that control was lost after contact resulting in a an uncontrolled ascent, "climbing roll to the left," to 200 feet above ground level (AGL). He reported that after reaching 200 feet AGL the airplane "rolled into a steep spiral downward and impacted near vertical." The airplane was released to the owner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8405K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8405K), registered now, S/N 688B, built 1982 (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) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 688B - Airframe hours: 4500 - Engines: P&W PT6A-20B 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Farmers Aerial Seeders Inc. - Registered owner: Farmers Aerial Seeders Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 16, 1993, 200 hours before - Departed: NONE - Destination: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 4,645 total, 2,708 in this make and model, 4,289 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19930526015269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930526015269A), May 26, 1993: Scwzer G164B, Stuttgart, AR, Destroyed. Right wing strut hit static line while maneuvering under powerline. Top wing folded. Lost control. Vertical impact. ## Other investigations on N8405K (2) 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. - [NTSB CEN23LA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA228), May 31, 2023: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164 (N8405K), Saffell, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with a dust devil after takeoff, which resulted in a loss of lift, and a subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the presence of a dust devil in the… - [NTSB MKC88LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC88LA158), Aug 16, 1988: Grumman G-164B (N8405K), Humphrey, AR, substantial damage 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.