Grumman G-164A accident near Mandan, North Dakota, July 14, 2001
On July 14, 2001 at about 1:00 am local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N14AG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mandan, North Dakota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot failed to maintain clearance from the powerline. Additional factors were the thermal lift and the powerline.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2001 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Mandan, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N14AG · no longer on the register · serial 1704
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing when it hit a powerline during aerial application. The pilot reported the weather was hot and humid and clouds were starting to build into thunderheads. He reported, "The air had moderate turbulence along the ground and visibility was good." He had been flying a racetrack pattern during the aerial application flight, passing under a set of powerlines many times. He reported, "As I approached the line, the top wing blocked out the line as I approached. I used the base of the tower as a reference point. The end of the field was about 400 feet to the front of the airplane. As I passed I felt the sensation of a rapid rise. I pushed the stick forward[.] There was no change. I pushed the stick hard to the stop I was still going up. Then I hit, I stood hard left rudder and still had the stick forward. After bouncing around the plane was nose down. I straightened out to level flight and flew a straight line to look at the structure of the plane. There was no vibration and nothing was missing." The pilot reported the landing was uneventful. The pilot reported the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction prior to the impact with the powerline.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,895 hours in all; 158 in this make and model; 139 in the last 90 days; 122 in the last 30 days; 1,830 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 29, 2001
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 2001; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y19 Mandan ND
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from BIS, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.