# NTSB CHI05LA214: Grumman G-164, N636U, Marshalltown, IA, August 7, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2005, 19:00 local (Aug 7, 2005, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Marshalltown, IA - Coordinates: 42.105556, -92.901107 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1056&lon=-92.9011&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Des Moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62192 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05LA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62192/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA214 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor was the corn crop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - Fire, standing ## Analysis The agricultural spray airplane was destroyed by impact with the terrain and post impact fire during a forced landing after a loss of power during takeoff from an asphalt runway. The pilot reported that he completed the sixth spray load of the day and he landed to refuel and take on chemicals. He topped off the fuel tanks and loaded about 115 gallons of pesticide water mix. He reported that the airplane was functioning normally when he departed. At approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl) at the departure end of the runway, the engine began to lose power. He did not have enough power or altitude to perform a 180-degree turn back to the airport, nor was he in a position to make it to a road for an emergency landing. He dumped the load and landed in a corn field just west of the airport. After the airplane came to a rest, it caught fire and was consumed. The pilot was able to exit the airplane and received minor injuries. A witness reported that he observed the airplane during the takeoff, and he heard the airplane's engine sputtering and backfiring as it banked to the west. The inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the engine and its accessories, but impact and post impact fire damage precluded the identification of any mechanical anomalies that may have been present prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2005, at 1900 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164, N636U, was destroyed by impact with the terrain and post impact fire during a forced landing after a loss of power during takeoff from runway 30 at the Marshalltown Municipal Airport (MIW), Marshalltown, Iowa. The pilot received minor injuries. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight was departing MIW on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he completed the sixth spray load of the day and he landed at MIW to refuel and take on chemicals. He reported that he topped off the fuel tanks and loaded about 115 gallons of pesticide water mix. He reported that he taxied to the end of runway 30 and performed an engine run-up and control check. He reported that the airplane was functioning normally when he departed. He reported that at approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl) at the departure end of the runway, the engine began to lose power. He reported that he did not have enough power or altitude to perform a 180-degree turn back to the airport, nor was he in a position to make it to a road for an emergency landing. He reported, "I dumped the load and landed in a corn field just west of the airport. After the airplane came to a rest, it caught fire. I exited the left side door and walked to the road." The airplane was consumed by fire. A witness reported that he observed the airplane during the takeoff. The witness reported that he heard the airplane's engine sputtering and backfiring as it banked to the west. He observed the airplane go down and he heard the impact. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. He reported that the fire damage to the engine precluded an inspection of the engine's ignition and fuel system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N636U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N636U-2017-03-24), registration cancelled 2017-03-24, S/N 372, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G-164 - Registry model: [Grumman G-164](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164) (registry code 3952702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 372 - Airframe hours: 7497 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R 985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 137 - Registered owner: Dusty's Spraying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2005, 30 hours before - Departed: MIW, Marshalltown, IA - Destination: Marshalltown, IA - Airport: MIW, Marshalltown Municipal, runway 30, 5,006 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: center; flight hours: 5,850 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 5,620 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: MIW, 1 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 20050806018539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050806018539A), Aug 6, 2005: Scwzer G164, Marshalltown, IA, Destroyed. (-23) Aerial application aircraft with full fuel tanks and 115 gallons of liquid insecticide onboard departed miw airport. Engine began to run rough and… ## Other investigations on N636U (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 FTW78FRA19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FRA19), May 1, 1978: Grumman G-164A (N636U), Baytown, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW76DPH02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76DPH02), Aug 23, 1976: Grumman G-164 (N636U), Stuttgart, AR, 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.