On August 13, 1995, a Grumman G-164 (registration N48611) operated by Peterson Aerial Spraying was involved in an aviation accident near Wadena, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a low-speed maneuver, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that his airplane stalled unexpectedly while executing a turn-around after flying over a field intended for spraying, citing insufficient power application.
What happened
The pilot reported that the aircraft experienced an unanticipated stall while performing a turn-around maneuver. This event occurred immediately after the pilot had flown over a field that was designated for agricultural spraying. The pilot stated he was completely surprised by the occurrence of the stall.
During the turn, the airplane exhibited mushing and shaking characteristics. The pilot attributed these symptoms to the aircraft being behind the power curve due to insufficient power application during the maneuver.
The investigation
The investigation relied on the pilot's account of the flight dynamics. The pilot identified that he did not add enough power during the turn, which led to the loss of airspeed and subsequent stall without warning.
Findings
The aircraft stalled without warning during a turn-around maneuver.
The pilot was caught off guard by the stall event.
Insufficient power was applied during the turn.
The airplane was behind the power curve, resulting in mushing and shaking.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a low-speed maneuver, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.