Schweizer G-164A-450 accident near Grand Forks, North Dakota, August 5, 1995
On August 5, 1995 at about 1:05 pm local time, a Schweizer G-164A-450, registered N7994, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Forks, North Dakota (Jensen airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with transmission wires. A factor in the accident was the sunglare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1995 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Forks, North Dakota · Jensen · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G-164A-450
- Registration
- N7994 · no longer on the register · serial 855
- 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 PILOT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SPRAYING A FIELD WHICH HAD TWO SETS OF POWERLINES LOCATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE FIELD. WHILE FINISHING HIS FOURTH PASS OVER THE FIELD, THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO UNDER ONE SET OF WIRES AND OVER THE OTHER SET. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WIRES, YAWED TO THE RIGHT, AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVES THE LOW SUN IN THE EAST CAUSED HIM TO HAVE SOME VISUAL PROBLEM AND POSSIBLY MISJUDGE THE LOCATION OF THE POWERLINES.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,111 hours in all; 1,037 in this make and model; 271 in the last 90 days; 160 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,792 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1995; 226 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 12:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.