Grumman-Schweizer G-164A N5390

Summary

On 27 July 1996 at about 13:00 local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A registered N5390 was involved in an accident near Dubois, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 July 1996 at 13:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Dubois, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

44.2197, -112.3697

Aircraft

Grumman-Schweizer G-164A

Registration

N5390

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96LA172

Nobody was injured.

failure of the pilot to remain clear of an irrigation spray device, which resulted in inadvertent water ingestion and flameout of the aircraft's turboprop engine. Factors relating to the accident were: the proximity of the irrigation spray device (close to the airstrip), insufficient time available to attempt an engine restart after the flameout, and high vegetation (wheat crop) in the forced landing area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Immediately after takeoff, the pilot began a turn which took him within 75 feet of an operating agricultural irrigation spray device. This device was located 500 feet from the takeoff runway. The pilot reported that as he passed the device, the water stream from the device pivoted and shot a two-to-three-inch stream of water directly in front of the engine air intake of the turboprop-engine-equipped aircraft, resulting in engine flameout. This occurred at an altitude of about 75 feet above ground level. A forced landing was then made in a wheat field, where the airplane nosed over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.