Schweizer G 164B N3628Z

Summary

On 16 September 2015 at about 20:30 local time, a Schweizer G 164B registered N3628Z, operated by McClung Aerial Spraying, was involved in an accident near Paxton, Nebraska, 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

16 September 2015 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Paxton, Nebraska, United States

Coordinates

41.0986, -101.3444

Aircraft

Schweizer G 164B

Registration

N3628Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1984

Engines

1

Operator

McClung Aerial Spraying

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Paxton → Paxton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA266

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate distance from a power line during low altitude flight operations, which resulted in an impact with the power line, and subsequent impact with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during an agricultural application flight, he was making spray passes under a power line. During the last pass, the left wing of the airplane struck the power line, and the airplane descended and impacted the ground. The pilot exited the airplane, and a postcrash fire ensued. The pilot reported that he believed he encountered a dust devil which caused the left wing to rise and contact the power line. About the time of the accident, a nearby weather reporting station was reporting, temperature 90 degrees Fahrenheit and wind from 120 degrees true at 4 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.