Primary finding
Probable cause
Was the pilots failure to maintain terrain clearance.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was positioning the airplane from stuttgart airport to a farm. During the flight he was practicing simulated spray runs when the airplane nosed downward. The pilot was not able to stop the descent before the airplane impacted the terrain.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 20, 1994, at 1315 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N9678, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Stuttgart, Arkansas. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. According to the operator, the pilot was positioning the airplane from Stuttgart Airport (SGT) to the operator's farm. During this flight the pilot was practicing simulated spray runs when the airplane nosed downward. He further reported that the pilot was not able to stop the descent before the airplane impacted the terrain. Numerous attempts to obtain a Pilot/Operator Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were unsuccessful. -