Grumman-Schweizer G-164A N48FS

Summary

On 20 June 1997 at about 20:15 local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A registered N48FS was involved in an accident near Benton, Missouri, 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

20 June 1997 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Benton, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Private Strip

Coordinates

37.0899, -89.5593

Aircraft

Grumman-Schweizer G-164A

Registration

N48FS

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

CHI97LA178

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's inadequate preflight by failing to insure that the secondary flight control lock was stowed properly, and subsequently the secondary flight control lock becoming engaged during the takeoff run. A factor relating to the accident was: inadequate design of the secondary flight control lock that was installed by the airplane's owner/pilot.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was departing to the south from the mid-point of a private dirt strip. The airplane accelerated normally. Just after the pilot brought up the tail of the airplane, he realized that a control lock was hung up on the control stick. The pilot could not pull the stick back. He said that he 'throttled back too late. The propeller struck the ground. The airplane did a somersault, landing on its back.' Examination of the wreckage revealed that a secondary ground control lock (installed by the pilot/owner of the airplane) was hooked on the control stick, making it impossible to move the airplane's ailerons or elevator. No other anomalies were found with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.