MIA00LA245

NTSB accident investigation · Schweizer G-164A · Berlin, GA · August 23, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 23, 2000, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC)
Place
Berlin, GA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N8919HSchweizer G-164A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 17, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000823008509A
Case key
50072

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall and collision with terrain.

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.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering - aerial application
Airspeed(vs) - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - crop

Analysis

The pilot stated that he was engaged in aerial application and was making normal spray runs. He further stated that while turning the aircraft he stalled the wings, and the aircraft became inverted, and he never regained control. He said the aircraft crashed in the cotton field that he had been spraying. He further stated that prior to the accident, he did not experience any mechanical malfunction or failure with the aircraft, or any of its systems.

Factual narrative

On August 23, 2000, about 1145 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer G-164A, N8919H, registered to and operated by a private owner, as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, crashed while maneuvering during aerial application in Berlin, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane incurred substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated in Norman Park, Georgia, the same day, about 1045.

The pilot stated that he was making normal spray runs, and while turning he stalled the wings, and the aircraft became inverted. He said he never regained control and the aircraft crashed in the cotton field he was spraying. The pilot further stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunction or failure to the aircraft, or its systems prior to the accident. According to the pilot, the wings were bent, and the empennage torn off, as a result of the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N8919H
Reported as
Schweizer G-164A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1563
Engine
P&W PT6-20, 550 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner
Van F. Suber
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Limited (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · March 1, 2000
Departed
Norman Park, GA

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
46
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
9,600 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 9,300 as pilot in command · 273 in the last 90 days · 96 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
90° at 6 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
VAD, 35 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.