Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during a low-level aerial application flight.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported he was spraying near power lines during an aerial application flight. He made several passes beneath a power line; however, during a subsequent pass, the pilot became distracted and struck the power line. The airplane impacted the ground and was destroyed by post-crash fire. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR23LA120 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 3, 2023
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Vernalis, California
- Highest injury
- Serious
- Serious injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B
- N-number
- N48492
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1976
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 137 (agricultural)
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial application
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.