Ag-Cat G 164 N80083

Summary

On 5 June 2017 at about 15:30 local time, a Ag-Cat G 164 registered N80083, operated by MacYs Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Tulelake, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 June 2017 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tulelake, California, United States

Nearest airport

Tulelake Muni (O81)

Coordinates

41.8906, -121.3606

Aircraft

Ag-Cat G 164

Registration

N80083

Category

Airplane

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

MacYs Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tulelake → Tulelake

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA321

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper decision to perform a low altitude fly-by over ground equipment, which resulted in the airplane striking the equipment.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was maneuvering to perform an agricultural application. He noticed a ground application operator was located inside of the cab of the ground application equipment. The pilot decided to perform a "close fly-by" over the ground equipment. The left main landing gear struck the ground equipment cab, and the pilot chose to return to the airport. He landed on the gravel taxiway that paralleled the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left main landing gear attachment points. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if "the pilot [had] used better judgement and not done a close fly-by the ground application equipment," which was also owned by the operator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.