On August 20, 1996, a Grumman G-164A (registration N904X) operated by Harold's Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Galesburg, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from trees that protruded into the field that he was spraying. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aerial application pilot reported colliding with protruding trees during a swath run, leading to a high angle of attack and a second tree strike before ground impact.
Incident Details
During an aerial application flight, the pilot was performing a swath run adjacent to an irregular field boundary. According to the pilot, the airplane collided head-on with trees that protruded approximately 300 feet into the field. Following the initial collision, the aircraft pitched up to a high angle of attack. Shortly thereafter, it struck the trees a second time before ultimately contacting the ground.
Pilot Account
The pilot noted that his reaction time was not as quick as it should have been. No further details regarding the circumstances leading to the collision were provided.
Investigation Status
The accident remains under investigation. Additional information about the aircraft, operator, or environmental conditions has not been released.