Grumman-Schweizer G-164A accident near Prescott, Washington, June 6, 1996
On June 6, 1996 at about 2:00 am local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, registered N9793, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Washington. 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
failure of the pilot to visually clear his flight path, after allowing his attention to be diverted, and his resultant failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from a hill. The hilly terrain was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1996 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Prescott, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Registration
- N9793 · no longer on the register · serial 1268
- 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 told an FAA inspector that while approaching a hill, which he thought he had sufficient altitude to clear, his attention was momentarily diverted to looking down for an object in the cockpit. While he was looking in the cockpit, the aircraft struck the hill about 150 feet from the hilltop.
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 single-engine
- Flight time: 7,090 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 5,675 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Shupe Flying Service INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Prescott WA at 1:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 215° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.