Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yerington, Nevada 89447
Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that after completing a spray run he was maneuvering for another run and rolled the wings level. The airplane experienced a loss of aileron control and settled toward the ground. The pilot still had pitch control, so he lowered the nose to maintain airspeed until he was able to regain aileron control. Prior to ground impact, the pilot attempted to flare to cushion the impact. The airplane landed hard, and during the landing roll it came to a sudden stop and nosed over. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector inspected the airplane and engine on scene. Flight control continuity was established, as well as mechanical continuity of the engine; there were no mechanical anomalies found that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/18/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 600
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Yerington
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89447
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 390048N
Event Location Longitude 1190544W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 556 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID NFL
Elevation of weather observation facility 3934
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26141
NTSB Notification Source FAA AWP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2009 6:27PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9723
NTSB Number WPR09LA270
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN
Aircraft Model G-164A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1239
Certified Max Gross Weight 4500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 16 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 8963
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Robert M. Nish
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Yerington
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89447
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Ag Air Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Yerington
Operator State NV
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 89447
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code O43
Departure City Yerington
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 600
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code O43
Destination City Yerington
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2009 6:27PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --