Grumman-Schweizer G-164B N48721

Summary

On 6 June 2001 at about 19:30 local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B registered N48721, operated by Hoxie Flying Service, Inc., was involved in an accident near Powhatan, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 June 2001 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Powhatan, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Cavenaugh Air Strip (NONE)

Coordinates

36.0894, -91.0706

Aircraft

Grumman-Schweizer G-164B

Registration

N48721

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Hoxie Flying Service, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Powhatan → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW01LA136

1 person died.

the pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while maneuvering after takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to departing for the 10 minute flight from the base of operation to the staging strip, the agricultural airplane's fuel tanks were topped off. After arriving at the staging strip, the airplane was loaded with 2,300 pounds of fertilizer. The airplane took off from the 2,900-foot dirt strip to the west with a right quartering tailwind (3-4 knots). After takeoff, while the airplane was turning left, its left wing struck trees. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground in a near inverted, nose low attitude, approximately 3,900 feet from the east end of the air strip. The airplane came to rest upright and was consumed by the ensuing fire. A witness reported observing the accident airplane as it was taking off to the west; however, he did not witness the accident. The witness reported that "the only thing that might have been odd about the takeoff was a slightly longer than normal [roll] out before he broke ground. But not enough concern for me to turn and watch his departure [to the] south." The operator reported that the normal south departure procedure when taking off west was to turn south prior to the trees and go under a set of power lines. The FAA inspector who examined the airplane wreckage, established flight control continuity. An autopsy on the pilot did not reveal evidence of any preexisting disease that could have contributed to the accident, and toxicological tests were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, alcohol, and drugs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.