# NTSB LAX02LA232: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N6794K, Knights Landing, CA, July 20, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2002, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Knights Landing, CA - Coordinates: 38.900833, -121.8125 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9008&lon=-121.8125&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55277 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55277/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55277 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA232 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, resulting in an in-flight collision with 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 - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The airplane collided with power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. Thereafter, the airplane crashed into a field. The impacted line was 33 feet above ground level. The pilot indicated that he had observed some of the lines, but not the line with the lowest elevation. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2002 about 0800 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N6794K, collided with power lines and crashed into a rice field approximately 8 miles northwest of Knights Landing, California. The accident occurred while the pilot was maneuvering during an aerial application flight. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by Farm Air Flying Service, Inc., Verona, California, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Verona approximately 0730. According to responding sheriff officers and representatives from the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the airplane came to rest upside down in a rice field after colliding with 12 KV power distribution lines. The elevation of the impacted upper line (conductor) was about 33 feet above ground level. About a 4/10-mile-long span of lines and five supporting poles were downed during the collision sequence. The pilot reported in his completed "Aircraft Accident Report," that he had observed the power lines and attempted to fly beneath them. However, he did not notice the lowest elevation line that his airplane contacted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6794K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6794K-2008-10-07), registration cancelled 2008-10-07, S/N 488B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer 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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 488B - Airframe hours: 11648 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Farm Air Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 17, 2002, 10 hours before - Departed: 2Q0, VERONA, CA - Destination: 2Q0 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 18, 2001; seat: single; flight hours: 8,100 total, 4,500 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 125 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: SMF, 15 nm away ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55277. 275 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 275 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463478&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.