History of Flight
On May 28, 2022, about 1340 central daylight time, a Grumman American Aviation G-164B airplane, registration N178LB, was destroyed in an accident near Whiskerville, Arkansas. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 137 as an aerial application operation. The pilot was undergoing training with Kin-Co Ag Aviation Inc., a Part 137 operator, and the aircraft was owned and operated by Hackberry Flying Service, LLC.
Earlier that day, the pilot had flown several practice passes over a rice field. After returning to the operator's airstrip, the aircraft was refueled and loaded with 2,500 lbs of dry chemical. Shortly after takeoff, the operator heard the pilot announce, "I’ve got to land this airplane." No further radio transmissions were received. A witness on the ground reported hearing the engine suddenly stop, followed about 5 seconds later by a loud impact. Black smoke was observed rising from the accident site.
Personnel Information
Records indicated the pilot did not hold a valid FAA commercial pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating, required for Part 137 operations. She held type ratings for the Boeing 737, McDonnell Douglas DC-10, and De Havilland Canada DHC-8. She had previously worked as an airline pilot but was removed from the airline's training program in December 2020 after unsatisfactory proficiency checks. She completed aerial application training courses in May and July 2021 and received a Part 137 endorsement. The accident was her first flight with a heavy load of dry chemical.
Aircraft Information
The G-164B, originally an Ag Cat biplane, had been modified via STC to a Fat Cat configuration with a 500-gallon hopper. It was not equipped with a crash-resistant fuel system. Maintenance records showed a 100-hour inspection on the engine in March 2022 and an annual inspection on the airframe. However, a required functional check flight between July 2020 and March 2021 was not signed off. The pilot had expressed concerns about maintenance records to her husband, as indicated by a text message sent in April 2023.
Meteorological Information
A witness reported clear weather, temperature about 85°F, and wind from the south at about 10 mph. The estimated density altitude at the nearest reporting station was 1,338 ft.
Wreckage and Impact
The aircraft came to rest near a ditch between two rice fields, about 1.8 nm southeast of the intended field. Ground impact marks indicated it struck the west side of the ditch and came to rest on the east side. All major structural components were present. Flight control continuity was established, but multiple cables were fractured with overload signatures. The engine and propeller separated from the airframe; postaccident examination found no mechanical anomalies precluding normal operation. No evidence of an emergency hopper dump was found.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy determined the cause of death as inhalation of products of combustion. Toxicology testing identified carboxyhemoglobin at 30% in heart blood, as well as diphenhydramine, zolpidem, and quinine.
Survival Aspects
The pilot was using a 4-point restraint system, and the buckle was found latched in the wreckage. She wore a flight helmet, but the make and model were undetermined. No fire-resistant flight suit was worn, nor was one required.
Organizational Information
Kin-Co Ag Aviation Inc. held a Part 137 operating certificate at the time of the accident. Hackberry Flying Service, LLC, the aircraft owner, did not hold a Part 137 certificate, having previously surrendered it. A Safety Management System was not required.