Grumman G-164 N636U

Summary

On 7 August 2005 at about 00:00 local time, a Grumman G-164 registered N636U was involved in an accident near Marshalltown, Iowa, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 August 2005 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Marshalltown, Iowa, United States

Nearest airport

Marshalltown Municipal (MIW)

Coordinates

42.1056, -92.9011

Aircraft

Grumman G-164

Registration

N636U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Observation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marshalltown → Marshalltown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI05LA214

1 person had minor injuries.

The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor was the corn crop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The agricultural spray airplane was destroyed by impact with the terrain and post impact fire during a forced landing after a loss of power during takeoff from an asphalt runway. The pilot reported that he completed the sixth spray load of the day and he landed to refuel and take on chemicals. He topped off the fuel tanks and loaded about 115 gallons of pesticide water mix. He reported that the airplane was functioning normally when he departed. At approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl) at the departure end of the runway, the engine began to lose power. He did not have enough power or altitude to perform a 180-degree turn back to the airport, nor was he in a position to make it to a road for an emergency landing. He dumped the load and landed in a corn field just west of the airport. After the airplane came to a rest, it caught fire and was consumed. The pilot was able to exit the airplane and received minor injuries. A witness reported that he observed the airplane during the takeoff, and he heard the airplane's engine sputtering and backfiring as it banked to the west. The inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the engine and its accessories, but impact and post impact fire damage precluded the identification of any mechanical anomalies that may have been present prior to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.