# Accident 19990923037139A: Scwzer G164A, Animas, NM, September 23, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 23, 1999, 13:35 local time
- Place: Animas, NM
- Airport: Cotton City
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: WBJG
- Location: 31.9394° N, 108.8305° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9394&lon=-108.8305&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8731H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8731H-2013-12-11) (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)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCWZER G164A
- Reported engine: PWA R1340AN1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 18,328 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 220 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN99LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA169) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990923037139A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 09/23/99 AT 1330 MDT, N8731H, A GRUMMAN AG CAT MODEL 164A, IMPACTED THE GROUND FOLLOWING TAKE-OFF FROM A CROP DUSTER STRIP LOCATED IN COTTON CITY, NM, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED UNDER TITLE 14 PART 137 AND THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS UNINJURED.  ACCORDING TO WITNESS STATEMENTS, GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS SHIFTED APPROX. 120 DEGREES DURING THE TAKE-OFF ROLL, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO SETTLE TO THE GROUND AFTER LIFT-OFF.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED AND VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED, THE OPERATOR WAS CONDUCTING THE LAST OPERATIONS OF THE DAY FROM THE REMOTE STRIP AND PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, LIGHT WINDS EXISTED.  THE PILOT STATED THE STRIP WAS NOTED TO HAVE UNUSUAL, LOCAL WIND CONDITIONS, BASED ON EXPERIENCE GATHERED OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS OF OPERATIONS IN THIS AREA. (.4) ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, DURING INITIAL CLIMB FOLLOWING TAKEOFF AT MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AND A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 7,400 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STALL/MUSH CONDITION.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD, WHICH WAS SOFT, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ROLL.

## 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 DEN99LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA169), Sep 23, 1999: Schweizer G-164A (N8731H), Animas, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: A inadvertent stall during initial climb following takeoff. Factor were: high gross weight, high density altitude, inadequate preflight planning and preparation, and soft terrain.

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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