On February 23, 2007, a Gulfstream-schweizer G-164B (registration N8063K) was involved in an aviation accident near Arcola, MS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering during aerial application. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A commercial pilot flying a tailwheel-equipped bi-plane struck a tree limb with the lower left wing during an aerial application flight. The pilot landed in a field, replaced the damaged wing, and flew back without immediate reporting to authorities.
Accident Details
The commercial pilot of a tailwheel-equipped bi-plane was conducting a local aerial application flight. During the flight, the lower left wing collided with a tree limb. After the collision, the pilot elected to land in an open field to examine the damage sustained by the airplane.
Repair and Reporting
The operator concluded that the left lower wing had sustained structural damage and required replacement. The wing was replaced in the field, and the airplane was flown back to the operator's facility. Neither the pilot nor the operator reported the accident to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) until after the repair had been made.
Aftermath
Multiple attempts to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) from the operator were unsuccessful.