- Date
- July 1, 1997, 20:30 local (Jul 2, 1997, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Satanta, KS
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N10397Grumman G-164
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report January 7, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970701016669A
- Case key
- 10618
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 pilot did not maintain aircraft control and the reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined.
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
Approximately two miles after takeoff, the pilot reported losing partial power due to backfiring of the engine. The pilot then made a forced landing and ground looped the airplane. The engine was test run on the airplane. Rated power was achieved during the test run with no mechanical deficiencies were noted.
Factual narrative
On July 1, 1997, at 2030 central daylight time (cdt), a Grumman G-164, N10397, registered to Satanta Flying Service, Inc., of Satanta, Kansas, was substantially damaged following a partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing in a farmer's field. The commercial 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 Satanta, Kansas, at 2025 cdt.
Post accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI), stated that the pilot reported that about two miles from the departure airport the engine backfired and lost power causing an emergency landing. The airplane's fuel system was inspected and the fuel tanks were empty due to rupture in the fuel line caused when the airplane ground looped and settled on the top of the upper wing. The fuel strainer was inspected and held clean aviation 100LL fuel (blue in color). The fuel line was repaired and fuel was added to the wing tanks for the engine test run. The forward spark plugs were removed and cleaned and oil which had run into the cylinders when the airplane was inverted was allowed to drain. The existing propeller was removed and a serviceable propeller installed for the test run on the airplane. The propeller was pulled through to clear all the cylinders of oil. The engine was then motored over with the starter and after several attempts the engine started. The engine ran rough until it burned the remainder of the oil out of the cylinders and warmed up. The engine was then ran at 2100 rpm's and produced 32 inches of manifold pressure. There were no mechanical or backfiring problems discovered during the test run.
The pilot did not submit the required National Transportation Safety Board's form 6120.1/2 under Title 49, Part 830.15.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N10397
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 70
- Engine
- P&W, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Satanta Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- 1K9
- Destination
- 1K9
- Airport
- 1K9 · Satanta Municipal Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 1,600 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N10397 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.