# NTSB CHI96LA247: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N9544, Dighton, KS, July 20, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 1996, 20:20 local (Jul 20, 1996, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Dighton, KS - Coordinates: 38.479747, -100.459892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4797&lon=-100.4599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10317 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10317/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA247 ## Probable cause loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). The crop and soft terrain in the emergency landing area were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - weather condition - temperature,high - weather condition - high density altitude - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - load jettison - delayed, pilot in command - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, while en route to conduct aerial application, the pilot noticed a loss in altitude. He advanced the throttle for full power and dumped the chemical load; however, the airplane continued descending and impacted terrain. An examination of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunction that would have resulted in a partial power loss. The reported temperature and density altitude were 86 degrees and 5175 feet. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 1996, at 2020 central daylight time (cdt), a Grumman- Schweizer G-164A, N9544, registered to Mid-Continent Aircraft, Corp., of Hayti, Missouri, was substantially damaged following a partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing in a farmer's field. The airline transport rated pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed Dighton, Kansas, at 2018 cdt. According to the pilot's written statement, he loaded the airplane with 190 gallons of insecticide and a full tank of avgas (64 gallons). The takeoff and climb out were normal. The airplane cleared the powerlines a quarter of a mile north of the runway, without any problems. Southeast of the field to be sprayed, the pilot noticed that the airplane began to settle. The pilot noticed that there were powerlines running east to west ahead of him so he turned to the west to parallel them. The pilot stated, "As I leveled my wings, the aircraft seemed like it might fly out of the dead air, which I thought was the problem. But, it soon began to settle again, slowly losing altitude. I saw a corn field ahead of me and added full power (I was already very close to this setting) and began to dump the load. Neither the power nor dumping helped the situation and the aircraft went into the corn field and flipped over on its back." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector represented the NTSB during the on-scene investigation. The Inspector's visual inspection did not reveal any mechanical problems that would have resulted in a partial power loss. The FAA Inspector compared the airplane's weight with the high density altitude and high outside air temperature and determined that the airplane was overweight for those conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9544](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9544-1997-04-08), registration cancelled 1997-04-08, S/N 1193 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1193 - Airframe hours: 11000 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Root Spraying Service, doing business as Root Spray Service - Registered owner: Mid-Continent Aircraft Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 4, 1995, 80 hours before - Departed: K65 - Destination: K65 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 3,200 total, 150 in this make and model, 2,262 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GCK, 35 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960719019069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960719019069A), Jul 19, 1996: Scwzer G164A, Dighton, KS, Substantial damage. Partial power loss. Settled. Began dump load. Landed cornfield. Flipped over. No mechanical. Over gross weight. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.