# Accident 20130717013789A: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, Elmira, MI, July 17, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 17, 2013, 16:30 local time
- Place: Elmira, MI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 9SBG
- Location: 45.0593° N, 84.8506° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.0593&lon=-84.8506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8719H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8719H-2018-03-27) (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: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164A
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA422](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA422) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130717013789A

## Narrative

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

ON 7/17/2013 N8719H A GRUMAN 164A CRASHED AT 1630 LOCAL NEAR ELMIRA, MI.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS PILOTED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, COMMERCIAL PILOT CERTIFICATE NUMBER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WHILE CONDUCTING AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING FOR SLF AIR, CERTIFICATE NUMBER 9SBG.  THE AIRCRAFT OPERATED FROM LAKES OF THE NORTH AIRPORT (4Y4) PRIOR TO COMMENCING THE SPRAYING OPERATION.  THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED APPROXIMATELY 700FT OF WOODED LAND PRIOR TO IMPACTING TWO TREES AND COMING TO REST 110FT LATER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE AND DESTROYED.  THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EXTRICATE HIMSELF FROM THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO EMERGENCY VEHICLE RESPONSE.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS CARRYING AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH AND EVIDENCE OF THIS COULD BE SEEN ON A WIDE AREA OF FOLIAGE NEAR THE CRASH SITE.

ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 110FT AFTER FIRST IMPACTING THE TREES WHICH INDICATES THAT IS DESCENDED AT A STEEP ANGLE.  THE AIRCRAFT DEBRIS PATH WAS MINIMAL SHOWING NO INDICATION OF INFLIGHT BREAKUP.  THE PROPELLER SHOWED SOME TWISTING AND LEADING EDGE DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH THE ENGINE PRODUCING SOME POWER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THERE WAS NO REMAINING FUEL ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT AS FIRE WOULD HAVE CONSUMED ANY THAT REMAINED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDNET.

THERE WERE NO KNOWN EYEWITNESSES TO THE CRASH AND THE PILOT REPORTS ONLY HAVING MEMORY OF FLIGHT PRIOR TO SPRAYING THE FINAL FIELD AND AGAIN AS HE WAS LOADED INTO THE AMBULANCE.  NO ABNORMAL FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS WERE NOTED DURING PREVIOUS FLIGHTS AND THE PILOT SAYS THAT HE DOES NOT REMEMBER ANY OF THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO OR DURING THE ACCIDENT.

POST-ACCIDENT INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED WITH THE PILOT INDICATE THE AIRCRAFT WAS FUELED TO APPROXIMATE LOADS (1/2 TO ¾ FULL) PRIOR TO EACH FLIGHT FROM A METAL TANK IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS WERE NOT SUMPED AFTER EACH FUELING AND PRIOR TO EACH FLIGHT.

## 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 CEN13LA422](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA422), Jul 17, 2013: Grumman Aircraft Cor-Schweizer G-164A (N8719H), Elmira, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a line of trees while applying agricultural product to a field.

## Other reports on N8719H (1)

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

- [Accident 19830330036219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830330036219A), Mar 30, 1983: Scwzer G164A (N8719H), New Church, VA, Substantial damage. Right wheel struck a soft spot on ag strip on takeoff. Veered off runway into plowed field and nosed over.

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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