- Date
- July 29, 1993, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Brule, NE
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8368Grumman G164
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930729026489A
- Case key
- 9253
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 unsuitable terrain encountered. Factors relating to this accident include total failure of an engine cylinder, and a hidden obstruction.
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
During the first pass of an aerial application flight, the aircraft's engine started to backfire and lose power. The commercial pilot elected to make a forced landing in an open field adjacent to the corn field he was spraying. The aircraft rolled approximately 300 feet to the end of the open field as the pilot unsuccessfully tried to turn the airplane before crossing a dirt road and entering a corn field. The aircraft's right wing hit a post hidden by tall weeds and grass at the end of the open field, substantially damaging the aircraft. Post-accident investigation found one cylinder cracked from sparkplug hole to sparkplug hole, with the top of the cylinder separating completely. No evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunciton with the airframe or accessories was found.
Factual narrative
On July 29, 1993 about 0730 central daylight time, a Grumman AG-CAT; N8368, sustained substantial damage when the aircraft struck a hidden wooden post during roll-out of a forced landing.
The pilot was uninjured during the aerial application flight operating under 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight. No flight plan was filed for the flight originating from Blue Springs, Nebraska.
According to the pilot, during the first pass of an aerial application flight, the aircraft's engine "started to backfire and lose power." The pilot elected to make a forced landing in an open field adjacent to the corn field he was spraying.
The airplane rolled approximately 300 feet to the end of the open field as the pilot attempted to turn the aircraft to avoid crossing a dirt road and going into a corn field. The aircraft's bottom right wing hit a post hidden by tall weeds and grass at the end of the open field, substantially damaging the aircraft.
Post-accident investigation found one engine cylinder cracked from sparkplug hole to sparkplug hole, with the top of the cylinder separating completely.
No evidence of pre-impact mechanical malfunction with the airframe or accessories was found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8368
- Reported as
- Grumman G164
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 863
- Airframe hours
- 5,620
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Mc Clung, Harold
- Registered owner
- Mc Clung, Harold
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 4, 1993 · 98 hours before
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 3,900 as pilot in command · 98 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SNY, 400 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.