Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Grumman G-164B Ag-Cat, : Fatal accident occurred July 10, 2020 in Springfield, Baca County, Colorado


Joshua Ryan Reid

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

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado

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

https://registry.faa.gov/N6917K

Location: Springfield, CO
Accident Number: CEN20LA278
Date & Time: 07/10/2020, 1102 MDT
Registration: N6917K
Aircraft: GRUMMAN G164
Injuries:1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

On July 10, 2020, about 1102 mountain daylight time, a Schweizer Grumman G-164B airplane, N6917K, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Springfield, Colorado. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries and succumbed from his injuries on July 14, 2020. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 aerial application flight.

The pilot was enroute to Two Buttes, Colorado to perform a low-level aerial application flight in a rural area after departing from the Springfield Municipal Airport (8V7), Springfield, Colorado. An employee who worked for the operator doing ground loading operations, reported the airplane was loaded with 48.85 gallons of AgSaver Glyphosate herbicide, 15.62 gallons of Atarrus fertilizer, and 125 gallons of Kuglar KQ-XRN fertilizer. The airplane had about 85 gallons of fuel onboard. He reported the pilot was having trouble with the "top wing tank containing the fertilizer." The chemical would foam over onto the windshield of the airplane. The pilot had returned to the airport once already to add more de-foaming agent to the tank and had activated the circulating pump to correct the problem.

A witness reported observing white smoking coming from the cockpit prior to impact, however the smoke was "granular in nature" and "looked solid." After the accident, the pilot reported to his wife, that while in flight, excessive foam coated the airplane's windshield, and he was unable to see outside of the airplane. The airplane impacted a remote flat field while traveling to the southeast and a postimpact fire ensued. The airplane came to rest about 0.65 miles southeast of the departure end of runway 17 at 8V7. The airplane sustained fire damage and was fragmented from impacting terrain as shown in Figure 1. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector documented the accident site. The wreckage was recovered and transported to a secure location.

Figure 1 - View of the wreckage in the field (courtesy of the FAA).

According to the type certificate holder for the accident airplane, Allied AgCat Productions, the original hopper (which has a maximum capacity of 2,000 lbs) installed in the airplane during initial production has the venting system routed to exit on the underside of the fuselage. A review of FAA historical airworthiness records found no modifications for the hopper listed. The airplane was not manufactured or equipped with a windshield wiper system. The airplane was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1-G radial engine and a Hamilton Standard 23D40-311 propeller. Reid Aviation & Aerial Spraying, LLC is a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application operator based in Springfield, Colorado, that solely utilized the accident airplane. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: GRUMMAN
Registration:N6917K 
Model/Series:G164 B 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: Reid Aviation & Aerial Spraying LLC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As: Reid Aviation & Aerial Spraying LLC
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KLAA, 3704 ft msl
Observation Time: 1653 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 38 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 19°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3600 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Light and Variable / , Variable
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.11 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Springfield, CO (8V7)
Destination: Springfield, CO (8V7)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 37.443056, -102.614444 (est)

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.


Joshua Ryan Reid   
September 9, 1980 - July 14, 2020  

Joshua Ryan Reid, 39, of Springfield, Colorado passed away Tuesday July 14, 2020 at Swedish Medical Center from complications following a plane crash. 

Josh was the first born of Tom and Jacquie (McCracken) Reid on September 9, 1980  in Akron, Colorado. Later he was joined by four brothers Justin, Jordan, Jared, and Jon. He grew up on a farm and ranch northeast of Akron. Being the oldest, Josh grew up fast. He helped from a young age with all aspects of the farm and ranch. He also helped with all of his brothers growing up, which formed an unbreakable bond between all of them. One of Josh’s favorite jobs on the ranch was to help his mom gather the cows morning and night. 

Josh attended Akron Elementary School and graduated from Akron High School in 1999. He always enjoyed sports. He played football and wrestled. He was also involved in 4-H and FFA and enjoyed showing cattle. While in high school, he worked at Spicknals where he earned money to buy his first car, a Chevy Blazer. After graduating from high school, he attended Northeastern Junior College for a short time before he decided that school wasn’t what he wanted to do. Instead of school, he used his incredible work ethic and determined spirit to establish himself as a businessman. He first drove truck for Pioneer Distributing and then started working for Packard Trucking. While working for Packard Trucking he met Melissa, the love of his life.  

Josh and Melissa started dating in December of 2000 and were later married on June 17, 2006. At the start of their marriage, they lived in Denver and Josh worked for Castle Rock Construction, Tarco Construction, and West Valley Construction. They were blessed with their first child, Dakota Lynn, on June 12, 2008. Soon after they moved to Springfield, Colorado and made their home. Josh worked for the town of Springfield and helped numerous community members with many odd jobs. Their second born, Joseph Logan, arrived on September 6, 2011.On September 1, 2015 Hannah Jo joined the family, and on March 29, 2018 Chloe Grace made their family complete. 

In 2014 Josh and Melissa started Reid Aviation and Aerial Spraying. Josh always had a passion for flying, and he worked very hard over the years to ultimately own his own business. Along with growing a very successful aerial spraying business, he also had a trucking business, fertilizer spreading business, a chemical warehouse, and sold seed. He always lived on the edge and pushed his limits. He always wanted to be challenged and worked hard at everything he did.  

But above all Josh was a man of faith, honesty, and dependability. It was those qualities that made him a role model for his family and a man people loved.

Josh is survived by his wife Melissa Reid and children Dakota, Joseph, Hannah, and Chloe Reid; his parents Tom and Jacquie Reid of Akron, CO; brothers Justin (Tianna) of Firestone, CO, Jordan (Amy) of Merrill, IA, Jared (Megan) of Otis, CO, Jon (Heather) of Ault, CO; In-Laws Marvin and Linda Packard of Springfield, CO; brothers-in-law Galen (Theresa) Schaller of Tampa Bay, FL, Rodney (Mindy) Schaller of Springfield, CO, Bobby (Brigitte) Schaller of Springfield, CO; sisters-in-law Marlina Packard of Springfield, CO, Josie Schaller of Florida; nieces and nephews Maddox, Ridge, Carter, Bobby, Laura, Gavin, Brooklynn, Jace, McKenzie, Brinley, Sawyer, and Abigail Reid, Chandra Schaller, Brent Malik, Fernado Avitia, Cirstye Shaller, Colby, Isaiah, Jaslene, Cutter, Darian; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. 

He is preceded in death by his grandparents Fritz and Laura Reid, Frank and Elsie McCracken, and brother-in-law Clayton Schaller.  

A memorial service will be held on Saturday July 18, 2020 at 10:00am at Reid Aviation and Aerial Hangar at the Springfield Airport. Interment to follow at the Springfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Josh Reid Memorial Fund at TBK Bank or People’s Credit Union.  


https://www.meaningfulfunerals.net



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