# NTSB CHI72FEM65: Grumman G-164, N697Y, Sparta, MI, April 19, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 19, 1972
- Place: Sparta, MI · SPARTA, MI
- Location: 43.1567° N, 85.7110° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sparta, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1567&lon=-85.7110&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 166268
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI72FEM65
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72FEM65

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1556  72/4/19    SPARTA,MICH         GRUMMAN G-164       CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 49, 2920
        TIME - 1125                    N697Y               PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 955 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SCHAEFER ORCHARDS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SPARTA,MICH                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JETTISONED LOAD
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
        WEATHER BRIEFING - RECIEVED RECORDED BRIEFING BY TELEPHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      61
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           6                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1577                       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - FRUIT ORCHARDS                            TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N697Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N697Y-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 248, built 1964 (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: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Schaefer Orchards

## Other investigations on N697Y (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 ATL96LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA110), Jul 19, 1996: Grumman-Schweizer 164 (N697Y), Bainbridge, GA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudgment of the clearance from the trees during the swath run that resulted in the collision.

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.

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