No fatalities

15 May 2019: Grumman G164 A — Currie Flying Service LLC — Lane City, TX

Lane City, TX, United States

On 15 May 2019, a Grumman G164 A operated by Currie Flying Service LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Lane City, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot misjudged the height of power line wires, causing the right wing to strike the lower wire. 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

During an aerial application flight, the pilot misjudged power line height, causing the right wing to strike a lower wire. The airplane crashed, rolled, and was destroyed by a postaccident fire.

Accident Sequence

During an aerial application flight, the pilot misjudged the height of power line wires. As a result, the aircraft's right wing struck the lower wire. The impact caused the airplane to descend and contact the ground, where it rolled several times before coming to a stop. A postaccident fire then ignited and fully consumed the airplane, leaving it destroyed.

Pilot Account

The pilot reported that no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions existed that would have precluded normal operation. He attributed the accident solely to his misjudgment of the wire heights. The pilot stated that the aircraft was in proper working order before the wire strike.

Aircraft Damage

The postaccident fire destroyed the airplane completely. The fire consumed the entire airframe, leaving no salvageable components. The pilot's report indicates that the wire strike initiated the sequence leading to the crash and subsequent fire.

Probable cause

The pilot misjudged the height of power line wires, causing the right wing to strike the lower wire.

Contributing factors

PilotAltitude — Not attained/maintainedEffect on operation