# NTSB CHI02LA152: Grumman G-164A, N7835, Langdon, ND, June 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 2002, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Langdon, ND - Coordinates: 48.759902, -98.370872 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7599&lon=-98.3709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FAR FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54949 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54949/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54949 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA152 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain directional control while taxiing. A contributing factor was the wind gust condition present at the time of the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - Fire, other - fuel system,tank - ruptured ## Analysis The agricultural aircraft was destroyed by post impact fire after it veered into a ditch while taxiing after landing. The landing had been executed toward the south on a gravel road. The pilot stated that a gust of wind lifted the right wing and aircraft went off the road to the left into a ditch. The pilot reported that the wind was out of the southwest at 15 knots gusting to 25 knots at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 2002, at 1845 central daylight time (cdt), a Grumman G-164A, N7835, operated by Hart Flying Service of Langdon, North Dakota, was destroyed after landing when the aircraft veered into a ditch while taxiing and caught fire. The landing had been executed on a gravel road in Langdon, North Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was operated as an aerial application flight operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 without a flight plan. The pilot exited the airplane prior to it catching fire and reported no injuries. The aircraft was being relocated at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement, "I flew the plane from one farm to the other, after I landed on the road I was taxiing and a gust of wind picked up the right wing and lifted me away from the road and into the ditch where the left wing hit first and ruptured the fuel tank, that started a fire that destroyed the plane." According to a diagram drawn by the pilot, the aircraft landed to the south and impacted the ditch on the left side of the gravel road. The pilot reported the wind to be out of the southwest at 15 knots gusting to 25 knots at the time of the accident. At 1853 cdt, the wind was reported to be 210 degrees at 9 knots at the Grand Forks International Airport (GFK), Grand Forks, North Dakota located 120 magnetic degrees and 68 nautical miles from the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7835](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7835-2002-09-05), registration cancelled 2002-09-05, S/N 786, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 786 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Hart Flying Services - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Wales, ND - Destination: Langdon, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 15, 2001; seat: center; flight hours: 4,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 4,375 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: GFK, 68 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 20020605038419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020605038419A), Jun 5, 2002: Scwzer G164A, Langdon, ND, Destroyed. (-23) On June 5, 2002, at 1930 CDT, a Grumman G-164-A, operated by hart flying service was destroyed when attempting to land. The title 14 CFR part 137 had… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 14, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54949. 283 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 283 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442536&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.