Grumman G-164A N7843

Summary

On 6 September 2013 at about 20:30 local time, a Grumman G-164A registered N7843, operated by Shenandoah Flight Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Atlantic, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 2013 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Atlantic, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

41.3901, -95.0098

Aircraft

Grumman G-164A

Registration

N7843

Category

Airplane

Year built

1971

Engines

1

Operator

Shenandoah Flight Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlantic → Atlantic

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA533

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s delay in releasing product to reduce the airplane’s weight and improve its climb performance, which was reduced because of the high density altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane was fueled to capacity (400 gallons) and that the hopper contained 1,200 pounds of seed. The airplane weighed 5,134 pounds at takeoff, or 866 pounds below maximum gross takeoff weight. The pilot said that he had no difficulty taking off, but after reaching 500 feet and turning north toward the field to be sprayed, the airplane began to slowly lose altitude. Believing he would be unable to clear an approaching tree line, he opened the leveler and the seed slowly began to dump. As he pulled up to avoid the trees, the airplane stalled, hit the trees, and impacted a bean field. As the ambient air temperature was in excess of 90 degrees F, the airplane's performance would have been reduced by the high density altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.