Grumman G-164A N7442

Summary

On 22 July 1998 at about 17:30 local time, a Grumman G-164A registered N7442 was involved in an accident near Tracy, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 July 1998 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tracy, California, United States

Coordinates

37.7299, -121.4199

Aircraft

Grumman G-164A

Registration

N7442

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX98LA240

1 person died.

The failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate clearance with the telephone wires.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was spraying a field when the upper left wing struck a telephone line, which was strung under a set of power lines. The aircraft tumbled to the ground and caught fire on impact, coming to rest about 300 feet from where the wires were hit. Two leading edge pieces from the upper left wing were torn from the aircraft and found approximately 60 feet from where the wires were hit. The pilot's son reported that his father knew the telephone line was strung on the west side of the field, but stated that his father just forgot that the telephone line and cable were strung below the power lines. No preimpact mechanical failures were found during an examination of the wreckage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.