- Date
- May 23, 1990, 09:43 local (14:43 UTC)
- Place
- Hunlock Creek, PA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N913XGrumman G-164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 21, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900523017189A
- Case key
- 36497
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 adequate clearance from obtacles, and his failure to see and avoid the electrical transmission line.
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
Witnesses reported that they observed the aircraft as it flew up the river, and watched it again as it returned down the river. The witnesses generally agreed that they aircraft was flying low over the river and it struck the power lines that crossed the river. The aircraft was observed to 'swing side to side', then it rolled over and entered the river at a steep angle. Several witnesses reported that they saw a blue flash/flash of electricity when the aircraft struck the power lines. The aircraft was being operated for aerial application of a gypsy moth insecticide.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N913X
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 433
- Engine
- P&W R1340 AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Aero Crop Services
- Registered owner
- Downstown Airport, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 1990 · 56 hours before
- Departed
- HZL · Hazleton, PA
- Destination
- HZL · Hazleton, PA
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
- 39
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,541 total · 34 in this make and model · 150 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IPT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.