# NTSB WPR23LA120: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, N48492, Vernalis, CA, March 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 3, 2023, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Vernalis, CA · 2454 Orchard Rd, Vernalis CA - Coordinates: 37.63118, -121.23477 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6312&lon=-121.2348&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Oakland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106836 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106836/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106836 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA120 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was spraying near power lines during an aerial application flight. He made several passes beneath a power line; however, during a subsequent pass, the pilot became distracted and struck the power line. The airplane impacted the ground and was destroyed by post-crash fire. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48492](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48492), registered now, S/N 47B, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-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) - 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: 47B - Year built: 1976 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney 1340/an-1 600 hp turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: D C Applicator - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: CA67, Vernalis, CA - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 22, 2021; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 17,000 total, 16,000 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KMOD, 13 nm away - METAR: KMOD 032053Z 27009KT 10SM CLR 13/04 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP161 T01330044 58026 ## 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 20230303003019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230303003019A), Mar 3, 2023: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B, Vernalis, CA, Substantial damage. On March 3, 2023, a Grumman G-164-B,[privacy data omitted], was in the process of dispensing agricultural chemicals when the aircraft made contact with a… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106836. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15596199&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N48492%20Valley%20Crop%20Dusters_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 452 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15596120&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photograph%20N48492-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15595770&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot%20N48492-Rel.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.