N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elmira, Michigan 49730
Wednesday, July 17, 2013 16:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was applying agricultural product on a field, flying toward a line of trees that were about 60 feet in height. The airplane had been loaded with about 200 gallons of chemical, of which about 100 gallons had already been sprayed. Upon completion of the spray run, the airplane impacted the tree line. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a line of trees while applying agricultural product to a field.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/17/2013
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1625
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Elmira
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49730
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 450403N
Event Location Longitude 0844928E
Event Location Airport N/A
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 135
Weather Observation Facility ID GLR
Elevation of weather observation facility 1328
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 14
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32212
NTSB Notification Source CEN Region Duty Officer
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2013 5:24PM
User who most recently changed record galm
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8719H
NTSB Number CEN13LA422
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN AIRCRAFT COR-SCHWEIZER
Aircraft Model G-164A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1489
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SLF Air LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11367 S Mason Rd
Aircraft Owner City Bannister
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48807
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SLF Air LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 11367 S Mason Rd
Operator City Bannister
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48807
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code 4Y4
Departure City Gaylord
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1555
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 4Y4
Destination City Gaylord
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2013 5:28PM
User who most recently changed record galm
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --