- Date
- August 9, 2005, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Georgetown, MN
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N553YGrumman G-164
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 31, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20050809024439A
- Case key
- 62442
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons while maneuvering and the low altitude of the operation. Related factors were the unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot, and trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The agricultural airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during an aerial application. The airplane then impacted a powerline pole, trees, and terrain while the pilot attempted a forced landing. The inspection of the engine revealed no anomalies associated with the reported loss of engine power.
Factual narrative
On August 9, 2005, at 1430 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164, N553Y, operated by Mueller Aviation, LLC., received substantial damage on impact with terrain following a reported loss of engine power near Georgetown, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. The commercial pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Georgetown, Minnesota, at 1420.
The pilot stated that while completing a turn on the fifth pass over the field he was spraying, the engine speed decreased "rapidly." The engine began to fluctuate when he "fully" advanced the throttle. The engine continued to lose power as the airspeed decreased "quickly" while coming out of a turn. The airplane impacted trees along the field, impacted a powerline pole along the field, and then impacted a field.
Inspection of the engine by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no anomalies associated with the reported loss of engine power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N553Y
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 224
- Airframe hours
- 6,891.48
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R-985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Mueller Aviation, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2005 · 62 hours before
- Departed
- PVT · Georgetown, MN
- Destination
- PVT · Georgetown, MN
- Airport
- Private
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 24
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2005
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 625 total · 230 in this make and model · 605 as pilot in command · 160 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 9 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- FAR, 15 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.