On June 10, 2004, a Grumman-schweizer G-164B (registration N48517) was involved in an aviation accident near Hope, ND. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from tree branches during aerial application operations, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a crop dusting mission, the pilot reported that the left wing tip struck tree branches while spraying. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wing structure but completed an uneventful landing after dispensing the remaining chemical load.
What happened
The airplane was engaged in an aerial application flight when it encountered an obstacle during a spray run. According to the pilot's report, the left wing tip made contact with tree branches while the aircraft was in the process of dispensing chemicals. This impact resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure.
Despite the structural damage sustained during the low-level operation, the pilot maintained control of the aircraft. The flight continued until the remainder of the chemical load could be safely dispensed. Following this, the pilot executed an uneventful landing without further incident or injury.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from tree branches during aerial application operations, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.