Grumman G-164 N634U
11 August 1997 · Wilmot, Arkansas, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 11 August 1997 at about 00:45 local time, a Grumman G-164 registered N634U, operated by Wilmot Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Wilmot, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Wilmot, Arkansas, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.0500, -91.5695
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164
- Registration
- N634U
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Wilmot Aviation, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW97FA304
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to a fractured throttle cable because the cable housing prevents an inspection of the cable by maintenance personnel. Factors were the pilot's impairment due to a heart attack, the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing, and the pilot's failure to use the seat belt/shoulder harness.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Pilot initiated a forced landing following a total loss of engine power. Examination revealed a fractured throttle cable due to excessive wear & fatigue cracking. The fractured area of the cable was not accessible for inspection due to its location within the cable housing. The 1965 aircraft had accumulated 10,001.96 hours. No evidence was found that the throttle cable had ever been replaced. Mid-afternoon, the pilot felt nauseated; however, he continued the aerial application flights. A land owner found the airplane upside down in a cotton field and called 911. Seat belt/shoulder harness was not worn. Autopsy results indicated the pilot's cause of death as 'acute thrombosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery complicated by multiple injuries sustained in the accident. The pathologists reported that the autopsy demonstrated evidence of compressional asphyxia.'
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Grumman G-164 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1997 | Grumman G-164 | Satanta, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1997 | Grumman G-164 | Altha, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 1997 | Grumman G-164 | Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States | Green's AG Sprayers | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 1997 | Grumman G-164 | Council Grove, Kansas, United States | Ronald G. Youngblood | No injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1998 | Grumman G-164 | St. Joseph, Louisiana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 25 May 1996 | Grumman G-164 | Colusa, California, United States | World Agra-Air Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jun 1997 | Wsk Pzl Mielec M-18A | Waldenburg, Arkansas, United States | Leon E. Jacobi | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1997 | Grumman G-164B | Swifton, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Piper PA-28-140 | Ashdown, Arkansas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1997 | Reiffer RS-15 | Ward, Arkansas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 1997 | Bell 47G-3B-1 | Crossett, Arkansas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1997 | Gulfstream-Schweizer G-164B | Palestine, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |