Schweizer G-164A accident near Cascade, Iowa, March 20, 2002
On March 20, 2002 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164A, registered N9763, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cascade, Iowa. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and his failure to maintain clearance with the wire. A factor associated with the accident was the wire that the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2002 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cascade, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164A
- Registration
- N9763 · no longer on the register · serial 1251
- 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 contacted a wire and collided with the terrain during an aerial application flight. The purpose of the flight was to drop seed along a section of highway that had recently been under construction. The airplane had taken off from the highway and was heading east to drop seed when the accident occurred. There were two sets of wires which crossed over the highway. Both sets of wires were perpendicular to the highway. The first set was approximately 40 feet above the ground and the second set was approximately 30 feet above the ground. The airplane traveled under the first wire. As the airplane was traveling under the second wire, the leading edge of the top left wing contacted the wire. The airplane then descended and impacted the terrain on the highway median.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,960 hours in all; 5,500 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: May 18, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,041 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2002; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cascade IA at 6:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 5:25 pm from MXO, 5 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.