On July 28, 1991, a Grumman G-164B (registration N6681Q) operated by Al-don Dusting Svc., Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Arizona City, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK TO AVOID THE COLLISION WITH THE POWER TRANSMISSION LINES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS THAT PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Grumman 164B collided with power transmission wires during a night aerial application flight. The pilot was spraying a cotton field and using installed spot lights for navigation and obstruction detection.
Accident Overview
A Grumman 164B aircraft collided with power transmission wires while conducting a night aerial application flight. The pilot was actively spraying a cotton field at the time of the accident.
Flight Details
The accident occurred during nighttime hours. The pilot relied on spot lights that were installed on the aircraft for navigating the field and detecting obstacles. These lights were part of a Blue Mountain Aviation night flying light kit that had been installed on the airplane.
Aircraft Equipment
The airplane was equipped with a Blue Mountain Aviation night flying light kit. This alteration and the installation of the lights were performed under the authority of an approved FAA Supplemental Type Certificate.