Venezuelan Agricultural Aircraft Strikes Person During Takeoff (YV236A)

Incident Overview and Investigation Authority On May 11, 2013, at 12:15 UTC, a Gulfstream G-164B agricultural aircraft, registration YV236A, operated by Fumigaciones Aéreas Gazdik, C.A., struck a person while taking off from the La Carolina runway in the Municipality of Javier Pulgar, Zulia, Venezuela. The incident was investigated by the Dirección General para la Prevención e Investigación de Accidentes Aéreos (DGPIAAE) of the Venezuelan Ministry of Aquatic and Air Transport. The investigation was conducted under the framework of Annex 13 to the Chicago Convention and Venezuela's Civil Aeronautics Law, with the objective of preventing future accidents rather than assigning fault. ## Flight Details and Impact The aircraft was preparing for its fourth flight of the day for aerial fumigation work. After a routine check and runway clearance verification, the pilot initiated the takeoff roll. Approximately 100 meters into the takeoff, the pilot felt a strong impact and aborted the takeoff. Upon stopping the aircraft, the pilot found a person lying at the edge of the runway. The aircraft sustained minor structural damage to the right wingtip and the leading edge of the right wing. ## Casualties and Damage The incident resulted in one fatality among other persons on the ground. The pilot, a 58-year-old Venezuelan male with a commercial pilot license, was uninjured. No other damage was reported beyond the aircraft. ## Aircraft and Operational Details The Gulfstream G-164B, serial number 584B, was manufactured in 1979 and had a maximum takeoff weight of 4,500 lbs. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 engine and equipped with a Hamilton Standard 22D-40 propeller. The aircraft was carrying 80 gallons of AV-GAS fuel. The pilot held ratings for instrument flight, single-engine land aircraft, and aerial fumigation. ## Probable Cause and Contributing Factors The DGPIAAE determined that the probable cause of the accident was the inadvertent crossing of the runway by a person. Contributing factors included the pilot's limited visibility due to the aircraft's takeoff configuration and the lack of signage and warnings at the aerodrome during aerial operations.