NTSB Factual Report

On June 23, 2004, at 0940 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N5339, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain while on initial climb from Hutchinson Municipal Airport (HCD), Hutchinson, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that after takeoff, while on initial climb out of ground effect, he decided to turn from a northwest heading to the east. The pilot stated he saw obstacles ahead of the airplane while on an easterly heading, so he decided to continue the turn to the south to avoid them. The pilot reported that during the turn the airplane descended into a swamp. The pilot did not report experiencing any malfunctions or failures with the airframe or its engine. The pilot stated the accident could have been prevented by "more airspeed over wings."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the low altitude turn after takeoff. A factor to the accident was the low altitude and the swampy terrain condition.