# NTSB ATL85FLT04: Grumman AG-CAT-G-114, N4654, Madisonville, TN, March 2, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1985, 15:54 local (21:54 UTC)
- Place: Madisonville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.520725, -84.350662 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5207&lon=-84.3507&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6657
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL85FLT04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6657/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL85FLT04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - performance data - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - load jettison - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED IN AN OPEN PASTURE AFTER LOSS OF POWER FOLLOWING A TAKEOFF FROM AN ADJACENT PASTURE. THE ACFT HAD EXPEREINCED A POWER LOSS A FEW MINUTES EARLIER WHICH HAD FORCED THE PLT TO MAKE AN EMERGENGY LNDG. AFTER GRND CHECKING THE POWERPLANT THE PLT DECIDED TO MAKE A 2ND ATTEMPT AT FLYING. THE 2ND TAKEOFF RESULTED IN A PWR LOSS AND THE 2ND FORCED LNDG ENDED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PLT REPORTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT MISSING ENG PROBLEMS HAD OCCURED ON OTHER OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE MALFUNCTIONS ON THIS DAY. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ENG BY FIRE FOLLOWING THE CRASH PRECLUDED A COMPLETE ENG EXAM TO FIRMLY ESTABLISH A REASON FOR THE ENG MALFUNCTIONS. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE'DUMPED' THE ACFT DURING LNDG INTO A FENCE TO AVOID HITTING PEOPLE ON AN ADJACENT GOLF COURSE. HE ALSO SAID HE SHOULD HAVE DUMPED THE'AG'LOAD & STOPPED TO THINK BEFORE A TAKEOFF OF THIS NATURE. THE ENG HAD ONLY OPERATED 20 FLT HRS SINCE INSPECTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4654](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4654-2012-12-11), registration cancelled 2012-12-11, S/N 1076, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AG-CAT-G-114 (AG-CAT-G-1)
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: P&W R985 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 137
- Operator: Dixie Dusters,Inc.
- Registered owner: Jack Edens
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1984, 20 hours before
- Departed: MNV, MADISONVILLE, TN
- Destination: MNV, MADISONVILLE, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 4,000 total, 250 in this make and model, 3,950 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 20 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles

## Other investigations on N4654 (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 MIA87FA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87FA160), May 19, 1987: Schweizer G-164A (N4654), Dundee, MS, destroyed, 1 fatal

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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