On July 22, 1998, a Grumman G-164A (registration N7442) was involved in an aviation accident near Tracy, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate clearance with the telephone wires. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot spraying a field struck a telephone line with the upper left wing, causing the aircraft to tumble and catch fire. The pilot's son later stated his father forgot the line was below power lines.
Summary
During an agricultural spraying operation, a pilot struck a telephone line with the upper left wing of his aircraft. The telephone line was strung beneath a set of power lines. After the impact, the aircraft tumbled to the ground and caught fire upon impact, coming to rest approximately 300 feet from the point where the wires were struck.
Sequence of Events
The pilot was spraying a field when the upper left wing contacted a telephone line suspended under power lines. The aircraft then tumbled and caught fire on impact. Two leading edge pieces from the upper left wing separated from the aircraft and were found about 60 feet from the wire strike location. The aircraft came to rest roughly 300 feet from the wires.
Post-Accident Information
The pilot's son reported that his father was aware of the telephone line on the west side of the field, but stated that his father forgot that the telephone line and cable were strung below the power lines. No preimpact mechanical failures were identified during an examination of the wreckage.