Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G 164B N48475

Summary

On 14 July 2014 at about 15:35 local time, a Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G 164B registered N48475 was involved in an accident near Marysville, California, 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

14 July 2014 at 15:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Marysville, California, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip (NA)

Coordinates

39.1492, -121.4709

Aircraft

Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G 164B

Registration

N48475

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marysville → Marysville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA293

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to adequately monitor the environmental conditions to assure the aircraft performance would afford an uneventful takeoff with the loading conditions. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's inability to jettison the load due to the dump lever being positioned inappropriately prior to takeoff, and the density altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while on takeoff roll with the wind calm, he noticed that the airplane had failed to gain enough speed to lift off. He then added throttle and attempted to dump the load, but the dump-stop prevented him from jettisoning the load. The pilot stated that at the very end of the runway the airplane lifted off, followed by the tailwheel impacting a small ridge, which slowed the airplane. The aircraft subsequently cleared a ditch and then started impacting young trees, with large trees directly in front of him. The pilot added that he then pulled the power off and landed in a field of young trees. The upper and lower wing panels were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented had he made sure that the dump stop was flipped over prior to takeoff, which would have allowed the load to be dumped faster. The pilot also stated that due to the temperature having increased from what it was earlier that morning, he should have reduced his chemical load. The density altitude at the time of the accident was calculated to be about 2,042 feet mean sea level (msl); the elevation of the airstrip was about 90 feet msl. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.