# NTSB ATL98LA128: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N9774, Goodway, AL, September 22, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 1998, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Goodway, AL - Location: 31.3368° N, 87.4258° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Goodway, AL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3368&lon=-87.4258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44019 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL98LA128 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44019/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL98LA128 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued approach into known adverse weather which resulted in the pilot's loss of control, and subsequent inflight collision with terrain. A factor was the weather conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - flight into known adverse weather - attempted, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis According to the pilot, he had just completed spraying agricultural chemicals on a nearby farm field and was returning to the airport. The pilot stated that while on approach he encountered light rain. The pilot continued the approach and maintained a higher than normal approach speed expecting possible turbulence from a nearby rain cloud. He encountered 'blinding rain' and struck the ground coming to rest inverted on the runway. The pilot believed he encountered a micro burst. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 1998, about 1345 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N9774, collided with the ground during landing at a private airstrip in Goodway, Alabama. The agricultural airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot and sole occupant sustained minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Goodway, Alabama at 1300. According to the FAA, the pilot had just completed spraying agricultural chemicals on a nearby farm field and was returning to the airport. The pilot stated that while on approach he encountered light rain. Expecting possible turbulence from a near by cloud, the pilot stated that he maintained a higher than normal approach speed. He said that at about 25 feet above ground level he encountered "blinding rain" and struck the ground. He believed he encountered a micro burst. The airplane came to rest inverted on the runway, substantially damaging the vertical stabilizer, rudder, wings and propeller. The weather observation facility located 25 miles to the northwest of the accident site could not confirm heavy rain or convective activity at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9774](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9774-2001-06-13), registration cancelled 2001-06-13, S/N 1256 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1256 - Airframe hours: 9085 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Roy F. Bedgood - Registered owner: Booker Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1998, 131 hours before - Departed: PVT - Airport: PVT, Booker Flying Service Inc, runway 18, 2,400 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 14,800 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 14,800 as pilot in command, 138 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GZH, 25 nm away ## 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 19980922025739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980922025739A), Sep 22, 1998: Scwzer G164A, Goodway, AL, Substantial damage. Acft encountered a rain shower on landing, stalled, and sustained substantial damage. (.23)on September 22, 1998, a Grumman G-164A, N9774, operated by booker… ## Other investigations on N9774 (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 FTW75FRD69](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75FRD69), Jun 28, 1975: Grumman G-164A (N9774), Iowa, LA, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.