Casualties unknown

1994-08-23: Grumman G-164A (N8971H) — Clifton, IL

Clifton, IL, US

On August 23, 1994, a Grumman G-164A (registration N8971H) was involved in an aviation accident near Clifton, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from unmarked wires during an agricultural application turn. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

An agricultural airplane struck unmarked wires while executing a turn during crop application operations. The pilot exited the wreckage safely, but the aircraft was destroyed by fire following the impact.

What happened

The incident occurred while an agricultural application airplane was engaged in routine crop dusting operations. During one of the standard application turns, the aircraft collided with overhead wires. Although the wires were unmarked, they were known to the pilot operating the aircraft at the time.

Following the impact, the pilot successfully egressed the airplane without requiring any external assistance. The force of the collision and subsequent events resulted in a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the aircraft.

The investigation

A thorough inspection was conducted after the crash to determine the mechanical status of the airplane prior to the incident. No mechanical discrepancies were noted by the pilot during flight, nor were any found during the post-crash inspection of the wreckage.

Findings

The primary factor in this accident was the collision with unmarked wires. The lack of marking on the wires contributed significantly to the severity of the outcome, leading to the total loss of the aircraft. The pilot's ability to exit the plane safely prevented any injuries or fatalities from occurring.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from unmarked wires during an agricultural application turn.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001206X02013. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.