BRIGHTON, AR, USA
N48370
GRUMMAN G-164B
PRIOR TO PULLING UP FROM ITS SECOND SWATH RUN, FIRST IN THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SET OF ELECTRICAL WIRES AT THE END OF THE FIELD. FOLLOWING THE INITIAL WIRE STRIKE, THE AIRPLANE FLEW ABOUT 1/4 MILE TRAILING ABOUT 15 FEET OF 3/8 INCH WIRE UNTIL THE WIRE STRUCK AND SEVERED A SECOND SET OF WIRES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO PITCH UP, ROLL LEFT, THEN PITCH NOSE DOWN AND IMPACT THE GROUND. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TRAILING WIRES WERE ENTANGLED ON THE RIGHT WING, INCLUDING THE AILERON GAP, AND ON THE EMPENNAGE CONTROL SURFACES.
(1) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE WIRES AND (2) THE WIRE'S SUBSEQUENT INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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