Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Grumman G-164B Ag Cat, N6672Q: Accident occurred June 15, 2018 in Arrey, Sierra County, New Mexico

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Albuquerque, New Mexico

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


http://registry.faa.gov/N6672Q


Location: Arrey, NM
Accident Number: CEN18LA226
Date & Time: 06/15/2018, 1010 MDT
Registration: N6672Q
Aircraft: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G 164B
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural 

On June 15, 2018, about 1010 mountain daylight time, a Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation-Schweizer G-164B airplane, N6672Q, impacted hilly terrain during an aerial application flight near Arrey, New Mexico. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane received substantial wing and fuselage damage during the impact. The airplane was registered to an individual and operated by Valley Ag Aerial Services as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the accident area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Hatch Municipal Airport, near
Hatch, New Mexico, about 0900.

The operator reported that the pilot completed 4 aerial application loads "just fine." The pilot turned to do a clean-up pass of the field and crashed into a hillside. The pilot does not remember what happened nor why it happened. The operator reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

Another operator in the area had previously sprayed the accident field. He, in part, stated that there is rising terrain that borders the field on the East side. If it were to be sprayed in the morning flying East/West, the East facing swath would be into the sun and rapidly rising terrain.

At 1010, the United States Navy Observatory reported the altitude and azimuth of the sun in Hatch, New Mexico, were 49.7° and 91.6° respectively.

At 0955, the recorded weather at the Las Cruces International Airport, near Las Cruces, New Mexico, was: Wind 160° at 5 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 31° C; dew point 7° C; altimeter 29.98 inches of mercury. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 60, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/09/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/03/2018
Flight Time:  6322 hours (Total, all aircraft), 2940 hours (Total, this make and model), 109 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER
Registration: N6672Q
Model/Series: G 164B
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1977
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number: 194B
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/03/2018, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3140 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 14827.6 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: P&W
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: R-985 AN-14B
Registered Owner: Individual
Rated Power: 400 hp
Operator: VALLEY AG AERIAL SERVICES
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: V4ZG 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KLRU, 4454 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 38 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0955 MDT
Direction from Accident Site: 149°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 160°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 7°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: HATCH, NM (E05)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: HATCH, NM (E05)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0900 MDT
Type of Airspace:  Unknown 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude:  32.828056, -107.299444 (est)

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