# NTSB CHI02LA212: Grumman G-164, N5296, Central City, NE, July 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2002, 20:00 local (Jul 25, 2002, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Central City, NE - Coordinates: 41.116664, -98.050552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1167&lon=-98.0506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 55295 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55295/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55295 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA212 ## Probable cause The pilot was not able to maintain clearance with the trees when the airplane encountered a downdraft at a low altitude. An additional cause was the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the approaching weather conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the downdraft and the trees which were contacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - rain - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - altitude - low, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplance collided with trees after encountering a downdraft. The pilot reported that he had just finished an aerial application flight, departed the field, and was climbing to return to the airport when the airplane encountered a downdraft. The pilot stated the airplane was at an altitude of 250 feet to 300 feet at the time. The pilot reported that the ceiling had decreased to approximately 800 feet during the flight. He reported, "I hit severe turbulence and a severe downdraft." He stated he added full power, but the airplane descended to an altitude of approximately 50 feet where the right wing struck cottonwood trees. The airplane then stalled and descended into a bean field. The pilot reported the fuel tank ruptured during the impact and a post crash fire ensued. The pilot reported on an NTSB Form 6120.1/2, "If I had left the field sooner instead of finishing my load I may have avoided the whole incident." Weather radar images and local obdervations show that thunderstorms were moving into the area at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2002, at 2000 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164, N5296, collided with trees and the terrain following a loss of control in Central City, Nebraska. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post impact fire. The Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Central City Municipal Airport, Central City, Nebraska, at 1930. The pilot reported that he had just finished an aerial application flight, departed the field, and was climbing to return to the airport when the airplane encountered a downdraft. The pilot stated the airplane was at an altitude of 250 feet to 300 feet at the time. The pilot reported that the ceiling had decreased to approximately 800 feet. He reported, "I hit severe turbulence and a severe downdraft." He stated he added full power, but the airplane descended to an altitude of approximately 50 feet where the right wing struck cottonwood trees. The airplane then stalled and descended into a bean field. The pilot reported the fuel tank ruptured during the impact and a post crash fire ensued. Weather radar images and local obdervations show that thunderstorms were moving into the area at the time of the accident. The pilot reported on an NTSB Form 6120.1/2, "If I had left the field sooner instead of finishing my load I may have avoided the whole incident." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5296](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5296-2003-01-08), registration cancelled 2003-01-08, S/N 580, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G-164 - Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs R755A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755a-series) (registry code 35006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 580 - Airframe hours: 4442 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R985-AN-14B 450 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Larry T. Reineke - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2002, 15 hours before - Departed: 07K, Central City, NE - Destination: 07K, Central City, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 6, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 10,811 total, 950 in this make and model, 10,693 as pilot in command, 122 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 30 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft broken - Temperature: 95 °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 20020724027639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020724027639A), Jul 24, 2002: Scwzer G164A, Centralcity, NE, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot stated that he had finished spraying a corn field and was climbing to an altitude for the flight back to the airport. He was flying in calm air… ## Other investigations on N5296 (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 FTW74DRD33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW74DRD33), May 5, 1974: Grumman G-164A (N5296), Gueydan, LA, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55295. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 376 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463540&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Metar For Grand Island, Nebraska (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40167661&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Metar%20For%20Grand%20Island,%20Nebraska-Master.PDF - Surface Data Plot (item 3, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40167662&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Surface%20Data%20Plot-Master.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.