- Date
- June 5, 2017, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Tulelake, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N80083Ag-Cat G 164
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Part(s) separation from AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170605008099A
- Case key
- 95302
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 improper decision to perform a low altitude fly-by over ground equipment, which resulted in the airplane striking the equipment.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering to perform an agricultural application. He noticed a ground application operator was located inside of the cab of the ground application equipment. The pilot decided to perform a "close fly-by" over the ground equipment. The left main landing gear struck the ground equipment cab, and the pilot chose to return to the airport. He landed on the gravel taxiway that paralleled the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear attachment points. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if "the pilot [had] used better judgement and not done a close fly-by the ground application equipment," which was also owned by the operator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was maneuvering to perform an aerial application. He noticed a ground application operator whom was located inside of the cab of the ground application equipment. The pilot decided to perform a "close fly-by" over the ground equipment. The left main landing gear struck the ground equipment cab, and the pilot elected to return to the airport. He landed on the gravel taxiway that paralleled runway 30. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear attachment points. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented, "had the pilot used better judgement and not done a close fly-by the ground application equipment" which was also owned by the operator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N80083
- Reported as
- Ag-Cat G 164 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 837B
- Built
- 1998
- Airframe hours
- 4,680.5
- Engine
- Honeywell TPE331-1-151G, 715 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Macys Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner
- Macys Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 23, 2017
- Departed
- O81 · Tulelake, CA
- Destination
- O81 · Tulelake, CA
- Airport
- O81 · Tulelake Muni, runway 29, 3,577 × 44 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- 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
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 11, 2017
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 2,800 total · 1,800 in this make and model · 2,775 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 135 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- KLMT, 22 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 12, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N80083 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.