# NTSB CHI97LA167: Grumman G-164, N663B, Council Grove, KS, June 14, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 1997, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Council Grove, KS - Coordinates: 38.660865, -96.480003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6609&lon=-96.4800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10594 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10594/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA167 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for landing and the fence post. Factors relating to this accident were the pilot's inability to see the fence post due to the high vegetation, and the soft dirt. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - fence post (cause) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - Fire, other - fuel system,tank - ruptured ## Analysis The pilot said that he 'was landing to the north when the lower left wing and boom hit a steel fence post that was obscured by the wheat.' The airplane skidded left off of the road into a soybean field. The wheels dug into the soft dirt. The airplane nosed forward, caught the right lower wing and flipped over on it's back. The pilot said, 'The impact of the overturn ruptured the fuel tank. I quickly released the seat belt and exited the aircraft. The aircraft burst into flames and was destroyed by fire.' Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 1997, at 1400 central daylight time (cdt), a Grumman G-164, N663B, operated by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when while landing on a gravel road, the airplane struck a pole, veered off of the road into a bean field, and nosed over. The airplane subsequently caught on fire and was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The field calibration flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated 3 miles south of Council Grove, Kansas, at 1330 cdt. In his written statement, the pilot said that he "was landing to the north when the lower left wing and boom hit a steel fence post that was obscured by the wheat." The airplane skidded left off of the road into a soybean field. The wheels dug into the soft dirt. The airplane nosed forward, caught the right lower wing and flipped over on it's back. The pilot said, "The impact of the overturn ruptured the fuel tank. I quickly released the seat belt and exited the aircraft. The aircraft burst into flames and was destroyed by fire." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage found the remains of the airplane resting in the field next to a north-south running gravel road from which the airplane was operating off of. The airplane had sustained severe fire damage. Examination of the engine and other airplane systems revealed no pre-existing anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N663B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N663B-2013-02-13), registration cancelled 2013-02-13, S/N 205, built 1963 (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: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 205 - Airframe hours: 7790 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Ronald G. Youngblood - Registered owner: Kenneth W. Winborn - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1996, 25 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 6,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 5,900 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MHK, 33 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 19970614014179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970614014179A), Jun 14, 1997: Scwzer G164, Council Grove, KS, Destroyed. Aircraft struck a pole on landing. (.4) the pilot said that he 'was landing to the north when the lower left wing and boom hit a steel fence post that was… 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.