- Date
- June 5, 2000, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Colfax, WA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6549KGrumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 9, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000605012059A
- Case key
- 49375
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 pilots failure to maintain clearance from power transmission lines.
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
During a routine aerial application flight, the aircraft collided with power transmission lines. The pilot sated that he was aware of the power lines and he intended to fly under them. However, the aircraft collided with the power lines and subsequently collided with terrain. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft that contributed to the accident.
Factual narrative
On June 5, 2000, about 0930 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B (Ag Cat), N6549K, registered to and operated by Southeastern Aviation Incorporated, as a 14CFR137 aerial applicator, was substantially damaged after colliding with power lines and terrain 15 miles west of Colfax, Washington. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. There was no report of fire. The flight originated from Whitman County Memorial Airport, Colfax, Washington, approximately 20 minutes prior to the accident.
The pilot reported that he was conducting a routine aerial application flight. He stated that he was aware of the power line that crossed his flight path (perpendicular) and that he intended to fly under them. However, the aircraft collided with the power line and the aircraft subsequently collided with terrain.
According to a deputy from the Whitman County Sheriff's Department, the power lines measured approximately 40 feet above ground level (AGL).
The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical difficulties with the aircraft that contributed to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6549K
- Reported as
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 364B
- Airframe hours
- 5,730
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Southeastern Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 21, 1999 · 150 hours before
- Departed
- S94 · Colfax, WA
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
- 57
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 15,787 total · 6,500 in this make and model · 300 in the last 90 days · 90 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PUW, 260 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.