Allied Ag Cat Productions, Inc G-164B accident near Moville, Iowa, August 11, 2004
On August 11, 2004 at about 4:42 pm local time, a Allied Ag Cat Productions, Inc G-164B, registered N48424, was destroyed in an accident near Moville, Iowa. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision by his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Contributing factors were low altitude flying and the tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2004 · about 4:42 pm local time
- Place
- Moville, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Allied Ag Cat Productions, Inc G-164B
- Registration
- N48424 · no longer on the register · serial 119B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed on impact with a tree and terrain during an aerial application maneuver near the field it came to rest in. A post-impact fire occurred. The pilot was fatally injured. Visibility was 10 statute miles and sky condition few 2,300 feet, broken 3,600 feet. An interview of a witness stated "that the pilot was consistently flying under high-voltage power lines that were located on the west end of the field." An on-scene examination revealed that "the tree that the aircraft struck was located about 40 yards west of the high-voltage power lines. Damage to the tree started about 40-45 feet from the ground. Many tree branches were found both at the crash site and under the tree. More branches were found along the path of the aircraft after contact with the tree. Some of these [branches] were six inches in diameter and some showed signs of propeller strike." Review of aerial photographs reveals that corn crop crush damage was contained to the immediate outline of the airplane.
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: 1,500 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: June 2, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CKP Cherokee IA at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,600 ft; a few clouds at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from SUX, 20 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.