# NTSB CHI88DEM10: Grumman G-164B, N48417, Schoolcraft, MI, August 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 17, 1988, 20:00 local (Aug 18, 1988, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Schoolcraft, MI
- Coordinates: 42.110591, -85.630973 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1106&lon=-85.6310&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13872
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88DEM10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13872/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88DEM10

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE MANEUVERING THE AIRCRAFT TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING IMPACTED A CORN CROP AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED/GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT AND SKIDDED TO A STOP, NOSE DOWN. THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE DUE TO A MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY WITH THE SPRAYING EQUIPMENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - spray/dusting equipment - disconnected (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose down, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

DURING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS, A HOSE BETWEEN THE CHEMICAL PUMP AND SPRAY BOOM DISCONNECTED ALLOWING THE CHEMICAL PESTICIDE TO DUMP OVERBOARD. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AND ATTEMPT REPAIRS RATHER THAN FLY (DUMPING PESTICIDE) OVER POPULATED AREAS ON HIS WAY HOME. HE LANDED ON A DIRT ACCESS ROAD LOCATED IN THE FIELD HE WAS SPRAYING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL HE SWERVED TO AVOID A MOUND OF HIGH GRASS AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE CORN ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED FURTHER RIGHT AND SKIDDED TO A STOP, NOSE DOWN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N48417](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48417-2013-10-29), registration cancelled 2013-10-29, S/N 26B, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164B
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26B
- Airframe hours: 3566
- Engines: P&W R-985 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Keystone Aerial Spraying Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1988, 70 hours before
- Departed: NONE, DECATUR, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 9,045 total, 64 in this make and model, 8,890 as pilot in command, 284 in the last 90 days, 123 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 19880817033919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880817033919A), Aug 17, 1988: Scwzer G164B, Schoolcraft, MI, Substantial damage. Hose on spray boom separated on a spray run. Elected to land on narrow road. Wing caught corn stalks. Ground looped

## Other investigations on N48417 (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 ERA11LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA011), Oct 1, 2010: Grumman G164 (N48417), Edison, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Leakage of hydraulic fluid from the internal fuselage line fitting, resulting in a subsequent loss of the right brake’s effectiveness.
- [NTSB CHI02LA277](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA277), Sep 6, 2002: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B (N48417), Martin, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight and his inability to abort the takeoff due to the obscured windshield. Contributing to the accident was the bent hopper latch and the pilot's failure to…

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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