Grumman-Schweizer G-164B

Full Narrative

On June 18, 2008, approximately 1330 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N6601Q. registered to and operated by Kin-Co Ag Aviation, Inc., and piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted terrain during an uncontrolled descent near O'Kean, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was seriously injured. The local flight originated from a private airstrip in Beech Grove, Arkansas, approximately 1328.

The pilot said he was carrying a full load of fertilizer and fuel. He started a turn after making his last aerial application pass. As he rolled out of the turn, "the [control] stick was pulled straight to the dash and I could not pull it back." The airplane "tipped" on its nose and "headed straight for the ground. Before I hit the ground, I could not pull the [control] stick away from the dash. The next thing I remember [was] walking away from the burning aircraft."

Witnesses said the airplane was in a steep right turn after making an aerial application pass when it "nosed straight in."

FAA inspectors who went to the accident site originally thought they had found evidence of a propeller blade failure. A portion of the propeller shank was found some distance from where the airplane struck the ground. Hartzell Propellers was asked to examine the propeller assembly. Hartzell reported, "Impact damage to the butt end of the fractured blades is a clear indication that both blades were intact at the time of impact. There were no discrepancies noted that would preclude normal operation. All damage was consistent with impact damage."