Grumman G164 N7500K

Summary

On 21 May 2019 at about 15:30 local time, a Grumman G164 registered N7500K, operated by Fitch, Matt DBA, was involved in an accident near Pearsall, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 2019 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pearsall, Texas, United States

Coordinates

28.8456, -98.8781

Aircraft

Grumman G164

Registration

N7500K

Category

Airplane

Year built

1986

Engines

1

Operator

Fitch, Matt DBA

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pearsall → Pearsall

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA277

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during low-altitude maneuvering.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while conducting an agricultural application flight, he thought the airplane was above some power lines, but the landing gear got tangled in the top line, and the airplane was pulled downward. The pilot attempted to correct by pulling "hard on the stick and pushed the power forward," and the airplane became airborne, but the left wing was pulled downward again. The pilot attempted to lift the wing by using right rudder and was able to maintain flight. The airplane was again pulled downward until it impacted the ground. The airplane was destroyed by postaccident fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.