# NTSB DEN88DTE04: Grumman G-164A, N8518H, Vona, CO, May 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1988, 06:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: Vona, CO
- Coordinates: 39.300586, -102.27098 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3006&lon=-102.2710&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17328
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88DTE04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17328/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88DTE04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THE WIND WAS CALM WHEN HE GOT IN THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT REACHED ABOUT 50 FEET AGL, AFTER TAKEOFF, HE ENCOUNTERED A TAILWIND. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE GROUND WAS SOFT AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT SAID THAT UPON EXITING THE AIRCRAFT, THE WIND WAS BLOWING ABOUT 15 KTS AND THERE WAS A TAILWIND FOR THE DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8518H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8518H-2005-03-08), registration cancelled 2005-03-08, S/N 1392, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN 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)
- 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: 1392
- Airframe hours: 1397
- Engines: P&W R985-AN-1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Timothy Lee Scott
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1988, 39 hours before
- Airport: Private Strip, runway 18, 2,500 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,036 total, 317 in this make and model, 861 as pilot in command, 317 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point -0 °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 19880507013169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880507013169A), May 7, 1988: Scwzer G164A, Vona, CO, Substantial damage. Stalled and crashed after takeoff. Lost lift due to encounter with wind shear. Flipped over in soft dirt.

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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