Grumman-Schweizer G-164A N5397

Summary

On 30 March 2006 at about 16:00 local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A registered N5397, operated by Dixon Aviation, was involved in an accident near Dixon, 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

30 March 2006 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Dixon, California, United States

Coordinates

38.4558, -121.8378

Aircraft

Grumman-Schweizer G-164A

Registration

N5397

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dixon Aviation

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dixon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06CA039

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to attain altitude/clearance during takeoff/initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather, and unfavorable winds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot reported that after liftoff on a Title 14, CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, he kept the airplane in ground effect to accelerate and clear wires at the end of the runway. He said the airplane would not climb high enough to clear the wires, and he elected to turn away from them. After initiating the turn, it became evident he could not turn quickly enough, and he decided to fly under the wires. While flying under the wires, the main landing gear wheels contacted mud, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wing. The pilot reported that he departed the gravel airstrip with about a 5 knot tailwind. Another pilot he spoke with said the tailwind increased to about 25 knots at the height of the wires (30 feet). The accident pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.