# NTSB CHI93LA263: Grumman G164B, N2008, Wyndmere, ND, July 16, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 16, 1993, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Wyndmere, ND
- Coordinates: 46.260028, -97.129707 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2600&lon=-97.1297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 17, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA263
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA263

## Probable cause

the pilot's decision to land on unsuitable terrain. Factors in the accident are the wet and soft turf runway.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT RETURNED FROM AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A GRASS STRIP.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, HE NEGLECTED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE CONDITION OF THE LANDING STRIP DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RAIN WHICH HAD FALLEN IN THE AREA OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.  WHILE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR BECAME MIRED IN THE MUD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT DID HAVE THE OPTION OF LANDING ON AN ASPHALT RUNWAY, BUT STATES HE DECIDED TO LAND ON THE GRASS STRIP IN AN EFFORT TO TRY AND SAVE THE AIRPLANE'S TIRES.

## Factual narrative

On July 16, 1993, about 1100 central daylight time, a Grumman G164B airplane, N2008, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over while landing at a private farm strip near Wyndmere, North Dakota.  The solo commercial pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, aerial application flight which operated under 14 CFR Part 137.

The pilot returned from an aerial application flight, and attempted to land on a grass strip.  According to the pilot's statement, he neglected to take into consideration the condition of the landing strip due to the amount of rain which had fallen in the area over the past few days.  While landing, the airplane's main landing gear became mired in the mud during the landing roll, and the airplane nosed over.  The pilot did have the option of landing on an asphalt runway, but states he decided to land on the grass strip in an effort to try and save the airplane's tires.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2008](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2008-2026-09-21), registration cancelled 2026-09-21, S/N 349B, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G164B
- 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: [Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-3](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-an-3) (registry code 51660, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 349B
- Airframe hours: 6290
- Engines: P&W R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Thompson Aerial Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Thompson Aerial Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 1993, 360 hours before
- Airport: Thompson, runway 36, 2,500 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 9,500 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 9,200 as pilot in command, 380 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19930716024369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930716024369A), Jul 16, 1993: Scwzer G164B, Wyndmere, ND, Substantial damage. Landed on wet muddy runway. Wheels mired in mud. Nosed over. Had option land on asphalt but was saving tires.

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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