Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain ground clearance
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During spraying operations the pilot attempted to fly under some electrical power lines. He flew too low and impacted the ground, severing the right main landing gear. After ground impact the pilot returned to a grass strip on a local farm and attempted to land. During the landing the airplane cartwheeled
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 11, 1993, at 0930 central daylight time (CDT), a Grumman G 164B, N91AY, was substantially damaged on landing near Ville Platte, Louisiana. The local flight was conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC). The commercial pilot was not injured. Aaron Young of Ville Platte, Louisiana, was the registered owner. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he was attempting to fly under some telephone wires when he impacted the ground. During ground impact, the airplane's right main landing gear was separated. He further reported that he returned to a grass strip on a local farm, and during the landing, the airplane cartwheeled. The airplane was released to the owner. -