- Date
- July 21, 1997, 08:38 local (13:38 UTC)
- Place
- Palestine, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8031KGulfstream-Schweizer G-164B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 14, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970721019159A
- Case key
- 20287
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the wire transmission line due to his diverted attention.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was applying chemical to a bean field and was 'attempting to trim up around the edges' when the airplane struck power lines. The pilot reported that he diverted his attention by looking at some grain bins at the time of the impact. During impact with the wires, the airplane caught on fire, and following a forced landing was destroyed by fire.
Factual narrative
On July 21, 1997, at 0838 central daylight time, a Gulfstream-Schweizer G-164B airplane, N8031K, registered to and operated by Racer Ag Service, was destroyed following an in-flight collision with a power line while maneuvering near Palestine, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, and a flight plan was not filed.
The pilot stated that he was applying chemical to a bean field and was "attempting to trim up around the edges" when the airplane struck power lines. The pilot reported that he diverted his attention by looking at some grain bins at the time of the impact. During impact with the wires, the airplane caught on fire, and following a forced landing was destroyed by fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8031K
- Reported as
- Gulfstream-Schweizer G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 544B
- Airframe hours
- 5,800
- Engine
- P&W PT61-20, 550 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Gary Michaelis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 16, 1997 · 200 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 6,000 total · 5,000 in this make and model · 225 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MEM, 45 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.