Grumman 164A N7249 accident near Lake Providence, Louisiana

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering during an aerial application. Contributing to the accident was the wind gust.

NTSB analysis

The pilot stated that he had just descended down a line of approximately 100-foot-tall trees in a bi-wing agricultural airplane and entered a swath path that was approximately 3-4 feet high above a rice crop. The normal height for the airplane above this particular crop was about 8 to 12- feet-high. As the pilot attempted to climb to a higher altitude, a wind gust pushed the airplane from the right and off of his swath path. Instead of adjusting for his low altitude first, the pilot attempted to realign the airplane back on the swath path by applying right rudder and slight back pressure on the control stick. As a result, the application of right rudder reduced lift and the airplane's right main wheel struck a levy. The airplane flipped over three times before it came to rest in a near vertical position. Examination of the airplane revealed that the engine was torn from its mounts, and the empennage and tail section separated from the airframe. In addition, the pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DFW08CA195 for the full record.