# NTSB SEA96LA112: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N9793, Prescott, WA, June 6, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 1996, 19:00 local (Jun 6, 1996, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Prescott, WA - Coordinates: 46.350982, -118.469108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3510&lon=-118.4691&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42383 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42383/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA112 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to visually clear his flight path, after allowing his attention to be diverted, and his resultant failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from a hill. The hilly terrain was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot told an FAA inspector that while approaching a hill, which he thought he had sufficient altitude to clear, his attention was momentarily diverted to looking down for an object in the cockpit. While he was looking in the cockpit, the aircraft struck the hill about 150 feet from the hilltop. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 1996, at approximately 1900 Pacific daylight time, N9793, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain southwest of Prescott, Washington. The airline transport pilot (who had commercial privileges for single-engine airplanes) received minor injuries. The aircraft, owned by Moore Aircraft Sales of Prescott, was being operated by Shupe Flying Service of St. Anthony, Idaho under 14 CFR 137 on a local agricultural aerial application flight from Prescott. Visual meteorological conditions existed in the accident area and no flight plan had been filed. According to an FAA inspector who conducted an on-site investigation of the accident: "[The pilot] stated he was returning to base...after spraying his last load for the day....When approaching the top of the hill where the accident occurred, he thought he [h]ad sufficient altitude to clear the hill, and was momentarily distracted looking down in the cockpit, for some object. At that time, his aircraft struck the hill approximately 150 feet short of the top....He admitted he was not looking up and forward when the aircraft struck the ground." The operator stated in his accident report that according to a pilot observation, the weather in the accident area was clear with 20 miles visibility at the time. The operator did not list any restrictions to visibility in his report. The pilot did not submit a first-hand account of the accident to the NTSB. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9793](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9793-2013-02-08), registration cancelled 2013-02-08, S/N 1268 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1268 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Shupe Flying Service Inc. - Registered owner: Moore Aircraft Sales - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: PRESCOTT, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 7,090 total, 80 in this make and model, 5,675 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 215° at 4 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960605045329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960605045329A), Jun 5, 1996: Scwzer G164A, Prescott, WA, Substantial damage. Returning to base after spray. Ops at low altitude. Looked down in cockpit for object. Struck hill 150 ft from top. ## Other investigations on N9793 (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW75DRG05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75DRG05), Jul 16, 1974: Grumman 164-A (N9793), San Benito, TX, substantial damage 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.