Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The agricultural airplane impacted powerlines after reversing direction to complete the last swath run. The pilot reported that he had been spraying the same field for the last twenty years and was well aware of the location of the powerlines.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 2, 1993, at approximately 0640 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164B airplane, N48659, was destroyed upon impact with wires and terrain while maneuvering near Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight. According to a relative of the operator, the airplane departed the Hicks Airstrip, near Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, with a load of pesticides earlier that morning. It was reported to him, that after reversing direction upon completion of the last pass, the airplane struck powerlines running across the perimeter of the field being sprayed. The pilot reported that he had been spraying this fiels for the last twienty years and was aware of the location of the powerlines. The pilot suffered serious back injuries and did not complete NTSB Form 6120.1/2. No maintenance anomalies were reported by the pilot prior to the accident. The wreckage was verbally released to the owner's representative by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector at the accident site. -