No fatalities

10 Jul 2008: Grumman Acft Eng G-164B — VALLEY CROP DUSTERS INC — Patterson, CA

Patterson, CA, United States

On 10 Jul 2008, a Grumman Acft Eng G-164B operated by VALLEY CROP DUSTERS INC was involved in an aviation accident near Patterson, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles while maneuvering. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

An agricultural aircraft struck a pole during low-level maneuvering, leading to loss of control and a post-crash fire. The pilot sustained minor injuries; no mechanical issues were reported.

Accident Overview

A pilot conducting an aerial application flight took off shortly before dawn. While maneuvering over the designated field, the airplane struck a pole. The collision caused the pilot to lose control, and the aircraft subsequently impacted the field below. A post-impact fire partially consumed the airplane. The pilot reported a minor injury.

Pilot and Operator Reports

Both the pilot and the operator stated that no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies were experienced during the approximately 10-minute flight leading up to the accident.

Investigation Details

The investigation focused on the circumstances of the pole strike and the subsequent loss of control. No further causal factors were identified in the available source material.

Contributing factors

Causes

Altitude — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

PoleLow light