Grumman G-164A N6629
18 May 2006 · DeWitt, Arkansas, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 18 May 2006 at about 17:10 local time, a Grumman G-164A registered N6629 was involved in an accident near DeWitt, Arkansas, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- DeWitt, Arkansas, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.2192, -91.3139
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A
- Registration
- N6629
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- De Witt → De Witt
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DFW06LA130
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The failure by both pilots to maintain adequate visual lookout and the Grumman G-164A pilot's impairment caused by the recent use of marijuana.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The 5,700-hour commercial pilot of a turbine powered agricultural bi-plane had completed an aerial application run, and was returning on a northerly heading to the municipal airport in order to pickup another load of fertilizer. The owner of the bi-plane stated that it's typical for the pilot to fly between 200 and 300 feet above the ground en route to, or from the airport. A 12,300-hour commercial pilot of an agricultural, turbine powered low-wing airplane departed a private airstrip, located west of the municipal airport, and was heading in a southeasterly direction en route to deliver his aerial application load. The airplanes collided in-flight while en route to their destinations and there was no reported witnesses to the event. The weather in the area was reported as VFR (Visual Flight Rules). The GPS logging unit was not installed in bi-plane at the time of the accident. The GPS memory card from the low-wing airplane was removed and sent to the manufacturer for download. However, the GPS manufacturer reported that the unit was not recording information at the time, and no data was available with regards to the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute conducted toxicology tests on the remains of the Grumman G-164A pilot. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC/marijuana) was detected in the pilot's heart and lung tissue. Tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (THC-COOH, a marijuana metabolite) was detected in lung, heart and urine samples. The testing indicated that the pilot had recently used marijuana, which resulted in his impairment.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grumman G-164A | N6629 | - | Substantial |
| Ayres S2R | N4121G | - | Substantial |
Other Grumman G-164A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jul 2006 | Grumman G-164A | Vineland, New Jersey, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 May 2006 | Grumman G-164A | Yuba City, California, United States | Twin Cities Aviation L.L.C. | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 2006 | Grumman G-164A | Lakeview, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 2007 | Grumman G-164A | Sayre, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jun 2007 | Grumman G-164A | Okarche, Oklahoma, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Sep 2007 | Grumman G-164A | Pittsgrove, New Jersey, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 2006 | McClung CHRISTIAN EAGLE I | Pocahontas, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 2006 | Air Tractor AT-502 | Minturn, Arkansas, United States | Anthony G. Alls | No injuries | - |
| 19 Dec 2006 | Beechcraft A36 | Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 28 Apr 2006 | Grumman-Schweizer G-164B | De Witt, Arkansas, United States | Darren L. Voumard | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2006 | Piper J3C-65 | Stugartt, Arkansas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Mar 2006 | Grumman-Schweizer G-164B | Texarkana, Arkansas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |