# NTSB FTW93LA173: Grumman G-164A, N6752Q, Ganado, TX, June 2, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 2, 1993, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Ganado, TX
- Coordinates: 29.039768, -96.510971 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0398&lon=-96.5110&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18762
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA173
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18762/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA173

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH THE POWER LINES

## 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 - wire,transmission
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - crop

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF AN AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE IMPACTED POWERLINES ON THE LAST PASS OF THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE DAY WHILE SPRAYING RICE FIELDS. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A FLOODED RICE FIELD IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE.

## Factual narrative

On June 2, 1993, at approximately 1700 central daylight time, a Grumman    G 164A airplane, N6752Q, was destroyed upon impact with power lines and terrain while maneuvering near Ganado, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight. The airplane was owned and operated by Arenosa Flying service of Edna, Texas.

According to the operator, the pilot was assigned to spray fertilizer on rice fields about two and a half miles north of Ganado, Texas, off Farm to Market Road 710 in Jackson County. The collision with the wires occurred as the airplane was completing the last pass on the last flight of the day.

According to witnesses at the accident site, the airplane was spraying on a field traversed from east to west by power lines suspended between towers. The airplane was observed striking the power lines and impacting the flooded rice field in a nose low attitude, coming to rest inverted.

An autopsy and toxicology tests were ordered and performed. The autopsy was performed by Roberto J. Bayardo, M.D, Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County on June 3, 1993. Toxicological reports submitted by the Civil Aeromedical Institute were negative.

The airplane was released to the owner at the accident site on June 4, 1993.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6752Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6752Q-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 1717, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1717
- Airframe hours: 7002
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Grayson Aviation Services, doing business as Arenosa Flying Service
- Registered owner: Grayson Aviation Services
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1993, 176 hours before
- Destination: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 35,000 total, 9,000 in this make and model, 30,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VCT, 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 19930602025879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930602025879A), Jun 2, 1993: Scwzer G164A, Ganado, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck power lines on last spray run. Impacted nose down into flooded rice field.

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.