MADISONVILLE, KY, USA
N9909
GRUMMAN G-164-A
THE AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION FLIGHT STRUCK ONE OF A GROUP OF THREE WIRES WHICH CROSSED THE FLIGHT PATH. THE WIRE BROKE AND ATTACHED TO THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE DECELERATED, STRUCK TREES, NOSED OVER AND IMPACTED THE GROUND WHERE A POST ACCIDENT FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT BEFORE THE FLIGHT, HE SURVEYED THE AREA FOR OBSTACLES AND NOTICED WIRES THAT HE LATER PARALLELED DURING THE FLIGHT. HOWEVER, DURING THE SURVEY, HE DID NOT NOTICE THE WIRES THAT HE LATER ENCOUNTERED INFLIGHT.
On Tuesday, October 4, 1993, about 1330 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164, N9909, owned and piloted by Frank Eiter, was destroyed when it struck wires and impacted the ground while maneuvering near Madisonville, Kentucky. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 137. The purpose of the flight was aerial application of chemicals. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he landed at the Providence Airport and drove out to the application site to perform a ground reconnaissance. During the reconnaissance, he observed wires that ran down the field to be sprayed in the direction of the passes to be flown. He further stated that during his last pass, the airplane struck wires perpendicular to his flight path, and one wire remained attached to the landing gear. The airplane decelerated, impacted a tree and fell to the ground. He also stated that the airplane flew fine that day, and there were no mechanical problems with the controls or the engine. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 the piloted stated: "...Began spraying east of wires, working E-W [east to west]. On the first pass west of wires I struck a set (3) of branch wires that were back dropped by a small woods...The aircraft pitched nose up and yawed abruptly to the right. I lowered the nose and attempted to straighten out as I applied full power. I entered the trees at 30-40 [degrees] of right yaw...the aircraft pitched abruptly down and impacted the ground at a 45 [degree] angle. Fire broke out along the leading edge of the center section of the upper wing..."
the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation and his inadequate visual lookout in flight which resulted in the collision with wires.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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