Accident Overview
On July 13, 2012, at approximately 1130 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A agricultural aircraft, registration N6846Q, was substantially damaged during a spraying operation when it struck a tree and impacted in a field near Darksville, Missouri. A post-impact fire occurred, and the pilot sustained fatal blunt force injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The local flight had departed from Omar N Bradley Airport (KMBY), Moberly, Missouri, at an undetermined time.
A witness reported that the airplane made several spray passes over a cornfield bordered by a line of trees. After the final pass, the witness observed the airplane strike a tree.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 36, held a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument ratings. He was issued a third-class medical certificate on June 14, 2011, at which time he reported 650 total flight hours with 15 hours in the preceding six months.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was a 1977 Grumman Aircraft G-164A, powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine. It received a restricted airworthiness certificate on September 20, 1977. The pilot's company, 'Maybee Air' Limited Liability Corporation, purchased the airplane on December 25, 2011. The pilot performed an annual inspection on July 1, 2012.
Weather Conditions
The nearest weather station was at Viertel Memorial Airport (KVER), Boonville, Missouri, approximately 35 nautical miles south of the accident site. At 1135, the automated weather observing system reported wind from 250 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 34°C, dew point 15°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.03 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact
The accident site was in an open field adjacent to the sprayed field, separated by a line of trees. Fresh limb breaks were present on the tallest tree, and broken tree limb fragments were on the ground between the tree line and the accident site. All flight control surfaces were accounted for, and flight control continuity was confirmed. The engine crankcase was cracked in multiple locations, preventing rotation and continuity checks. Chordwise scoring and bending of the propeller were noted. Examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical Examination
An autopsy performed on July 16, 2012, at the Boone/Callaway County Medical Examiner’s office attributed the cause of death to blunt force injuries. Toxicology tests by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute detected no carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, or drugs in the pilot's system.