# NTSB ATL83LA004: Grumman G-164B, N48498, Rowland, NC, October 5, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 5, 1982, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: Rowland, NC
- Coordinates: 34.53009, -79.290679 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5301&lon=-79.2907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 5, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72432
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL83LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72432/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83LA004

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FERRIED TO A NEARBY AIRPORT FOR WINTER STORAGE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND RPM WAS LOST. THE PILOT TURNED AND LANDED IN A PLOWED FIELD WHERE THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT SUSPECTED A MAGNETO PROBLEM FROM MOISTURE CREATING CROSS-FIRING, MISFIRING OR CARBON TRACKS. HE STATED THAT HE ALTERNATED FROM RIGHT TO LEFT TO BOTH MAGNETOS, BUT COULD NOT REGAIN POWER. THE MAGNETOS CHECKED GOOD BEFORE TAKEOFF. ALSO BEFORE THIS FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD SAT OUTSIDE WITHOUT BEING FLOWN FOR 5 DAYS. DURING THAT TIME, THERE HAD BEEN HEAVY RAIN. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD DRAINED THE SUMPS BEFORE THE FLIGHT, BUT NOTED NO WATER IN THE FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48498](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48498-1991-11-20), registration cancelled 1991-11-20, S/N 51B (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164B
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 518
- Airframe hours: 1850
- Engines: P & W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Custom Spraying Service
- Registered owner: Custom Spraying Service
- Departed: ROWLAND, NC
- Destination: MEB, MAXTON, NC
- Airport: Davis, runway 23, 3,500 × 0 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 7,010 total, 1,250 in this make and model, 6,585 as pilot in command, 285 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 158 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19821005061179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821005061179A), Oct 5, 1982: Scwzer G164B, Rowland, NC, Substantial damage. Engine backfired, lost power on takeoff. Landed off airport, nosed over. Water shorted out magnetos.

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.

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