Grumman G 164 N691Y accident near Marydel, Delaware

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from power lines while conducting an aerial application flight.

NTSB analysis

The commercial pilot was performing an aerial application flight. He had just completed his first pass spraying a field when the airplane struck a set of power lines and impacted a field adjacent to the field that he was spraying, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot stated that he had no memory of the accident. Review of data downloaded from an onboard GPS unit was consistent with the airplane operating normally as it made a pass over the field and then initiating a climb near the power lines. The recorded data ended shortly after the airplane was on the opposite side of the power lines.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA17LA249 for the full record.