- Date
- May 21, 2019, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Pearsall, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7500KGrumman G164
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 13, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190521004979A
- Case key
- 99474
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 from power lines during low-altitude maneuvering.
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, while conducting an agricultural application flight, he thought the airplane was above some power lines, but the landing gear got tangled in the top line, and the airplane was pulled downward. The pilot attempted to correct by pulling "hard on the stick and pushed the power forward," and the airplane became airborne, but the left wing was pulled downward again. The pilot attempted to lift the wing by using right rudder and was able to maintain flight. The airplane was again pulled downward until it impacted the ground. The airplane was destroyed by postaccident fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while conducting an aerial application flight, he had taken his eyes "off of the line just before entering the field." The airplane's landing gear hit the top wire and was pulled down toward the field. He attempted to correct by pulling "hard on the stick and pushed the power forward." The airplane became airborne, but suddenly the "left wing was yanked violently back into the corn." Utilizing right rudder, he attempted to lift the wing from the field and was able to maintain flight. The airplane was again "yanked and for the last time," and impacted the ground. The airplane was consumed by a postaccident fire and was destroyed. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7500K
- Reported as
- Grumman G164 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 784B
- Built
- 1986
- Airframe hours
- 17,273
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6-28, 680 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Fitch, Matt DBA
- Registered owner
- Fitch, Matt DBA
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 8, 2019
- Departed
- T30 · Pearsall, TX
- Destination
- T30 · Pearsall, TX
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- 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
- 34
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 31, 2018
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,600 total · 700 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,400 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.72 inHg
- Observed at
- KPEZ, 20 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 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 N7500K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.