# NTSB CEN25LA160: Grumman G164, N5416, Louise, TX, April 18, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 18, 2025, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Louise, TX - Coordinates: 29.03949, -96.28546 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0395&lon=-96.2855&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 16, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200039 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200039/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200039 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA160 ## Probable cause The reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman G-164A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952704), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis About 20 minutes after departing on a local flight, the pilot reported that the engine completely stopped producing power, and he performed a forced landing to corn field. During the forced landing, substantial damage was sustained to the airplane’s wing. After the accident, the airplane was recovered to the pilot’s property, and a mechanic performed a limited examination. He was able to rotate the propeller within a limited range and confirmed that the engine was not seized. In addition, there were no cracked or obvious failures with the engine case and components. Fuel was being supplied to the carburetor, and the magnetos appeared to operate. Several attempts to perform a comprehensive engine examination were not successful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5416](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5416), registered now, S/N 1030 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G164 (A) - Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1030 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 9782.9 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R985 AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Nelson Flyers Inc - Registered owner: Nelson Flyers Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 2024 - Airport: NA - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 20, 2024; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,184 total, 288 in this make and model, 1,066 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 20 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KARM, 20 nm away - METAR: KARM 181555Z AUTO 17020G24KT 10SM BKN028 BKN035 BKN044 28/20 A2998 RMK AO2 T02770203 TSNO ## 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 20250418003719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250418003719A), Apr 18, 2025: Grumman G-164A, Danevang, TX, Substantial damage. Event description: During a warmup flight, the aircraft experienced an unexpected engine failure shortly after takeoff. The pilot initiated a return to the… ## Other investigations on N5416 (2) 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 DEN02LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA081), Jul 24, 2002: Grumman G-164A (N5416), Two Buttes, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the right main landing wheel master brake cylinder and the subsequent inadvertent ground loop during the landing roll by the pilot. - [NTSB MIA90LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90LA078), Mar 5, 1990: Grumman G-164A (N5416), Mattson, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE NO. 6 CYLINDER WHICH CRACKED ACROSS THE TOP FROM ONE SPARK PLUG HOLE TO THE OTHER, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 16, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200039. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20068078&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=cen25la160%20NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 809 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20068230&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA160%20photos-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation mechanic (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20067810&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Vajdos-Rel.pdf 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.