On August 2, 1996, a Grumman G-164A (registration N7362) was involved in an aviation accident near Mayersville, MS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance while turning, resulting in the right main landing gear striking a truck cab and separating from the aircraft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot conducting agricultural operations struck a truck cab with his right main landing gear during a turn, causing gear separation and minor injuries to the truck operator before an emergency landing.
What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was engaged in agricultural aviation operations. During the maneuvering phase of the flight, specifically while executing a right turn to align with his final swath run, the pilot looked behind the aircraft to check his positioning. In this process, the right main landing gear made contact with the cab of a truck situated on the ground.
The impact caused the right main landing gear to separate from the airplane. Despite the mechanical failure and damage sustained by the aircraft, the pilot retained control and successfully executed an emergency landing at a nearby grass airstrip. The operator of the truck involved in the collision sustained minor injuries as a result of the incident.
The investigation
The primary finding from the pilot's statement indicates that the sequence of events was initiated during the alignment phase for a crop application run. The separation of the landing gear was directly attributed to the physical contact with the stationary vehicle on the ground.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance while turning, resulting in the right main landing gear striking a truck cab and separating from the aircraft.