Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, he was flying across rows of a bean field. He was making his last pass when he descended over wires at the end of the field and had established level flight when the main gear impacted the ground. The airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 28, 1995, at 1030 mountain daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N9650, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Holyoke, Colorado. The commercial pilot was not injured. The aircraft was being operated by Steggs Aerial Spraying, Inc., under Title 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from Holyoke at 1000 MDT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight. According to the pilot, he was flying "across-rows" of a bean field. He was making his last pass when he descended over some wires at the end of the field and had "established level flight" when the main gear impacted the ground. The airplane nosed over and came to rest in the inverted position. The powerplant was found separated from the airplane. -