Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A N8896H

Summary

On 23 April 2011 at about 11:59 local time, a Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A registered N8896H, operated by LEE Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Belhaven, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 April 2011 at 11:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Belhaven, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.4714, -76.6408

Aircraft

Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A

Registration

N8896H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

LEE Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pantego → Bellhaven

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11CA260

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance above crops while performing an aerial application flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he had completed three or four passes of the aerial application flight before the accident. The airplane was heavily loaded as he approached the field, and he felt the plane mush a little bit. The airplane's wheels and spray rig struck the crops and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. During the accident sequence, the engine separated from the airplane and the wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. According to the pilot, the performance and handling of the airplane were great and there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.