# Accident 19980404012639A: Scwzer G164A, Benton, MO, April 4, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 4, 1998, 12:00 local time
- Place: Benton, MO
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Starting Engines
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 37.0895° N, 89.5605° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0895&lon=-89.5605&mi=10
- Aircraft: N48FS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48FS-2000-10-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A (registry code 3952801, https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCWZER G164A
- Reported engine: PWA R1340*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 18,510 total, 10,060 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA114) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980404012639A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS HARD STARTING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, ENGINE BACKFIRES AND FIRE BROKE OUT.  PILOT CONTINUED CRANKING ENGINE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFULL IN PUTTING OUT FIRE.  A/C WAS FULLY ENVELOPED IN FIRE BY TH TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED.                                                            (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE STARTED THE AIRPLANE AND MOVED IT OUT ONTO THE AIRSTRIP WHERE IT WAS TO BE LOADED WITH FERTILIZER.  AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE AT WHICH TIME IT BACKFIRED AND QUIT.  HE REPORTED HE WAITED 15 TO 20 SECONDS, PUMPED THE THROTTLE THREE TIMES AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE.  SMOKE INSTANTLY STARTED COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST STACK.  A GROUND LOADER GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND FIRED IT INTO THE EXHAUST STACK.  THE PILOT STATED HE PULLED THE MIXTURE BACK, OPENED THE THROTTLE AND CONTINUED TO CRANK THE ENGINE FOR THREE OR FOUR MINUTES HOPING TO SUCK THE FLAMES INTO THE ENGINE.  HE REPORTED THAT AFTER THIS TIME HE WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE AIRPLANE DUE TO THE HEAVY SMOKE.  THE PILOT REPORTED THE NORTH WINDS BLEW THE FLAMES UPWARD WHICH IGNITED THE TOP FUEL TANK.  THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE.                           (-23)AIRCRAFT WAS HARD STARTING. AFTER SEVERAL START ATTEMPTS, ENGINE BACKFIRED AND FIRE BROKE OUT.  PILOT CONTINUED CRANKED ENGINE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN PUTTING OUT FIRE.  A/C FULLY ENVELOPED IN FIRE BY THE TIME FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA114), Apr 4, 1998: Grumman G-164A (N48FS), Benton, MO, destroyed. Probable cause: an engine fire for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N48FS (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19970620047339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970620047339A), Jun 20, 1997: Scwzer G164A (N48FS), Benton, MO, Substantial damage. (-16) While pilot had stick full forward during early part of the takeoff roll as the tail came off the ground the pilot said a secondary gust lock, (that had…
- [Incident 19890426034659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890426034659I), Apr 26, 1989: Scwzer G164A (N48FS), Edna, TX, Minor damage. Flew too low on spray pass over rice field. Hit dike with right gear. Landed at airport to check damage.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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