# NTSB DFW08CA168: Grumman G-164, N54229, Tallulah, LA, June 23, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 23, 2008, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Tallulah, LA - Coordinates: 32.424999, -91.139999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4250&lon=-91.1400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68305/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA168 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The 546-hour commercial pilot was ferrying an aircraft on a short flight (approximately 8 miles) from a private airstrip to a different airfield. The pilot reported that shortly after departure, he reduced engine power for cruise flight. The airplane started to lose altitude and before the pilot could stop the descent, the agricultural airplane impacted a corn field. The pilot received minor injures during the mishap and the airplane came to rest in the inverted position. ## Factual narrative The 546-hour commercial pilot was ferrying an aircraft on a short flight (approximately 8 miles) from a private airstrip to a different airfield. The pilot reported that shortly after departure, he reduced engine power for cruise flight. The airplane started to lose altitude and before the pilot could stop the descent, the agricultural airplane impacted a corn field. The pilot received minor injures during the mishap and the airplane came to rest in the inverted position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54229](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54229-2017-05-15), registration cancelled 2017-05-15, S/N 160B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman G-164 - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (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: 160B - Airframe hours: 12058 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gaumnitz Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2008 - Departed: Tallulah, LA - Destination: Tallulah, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2007; flight hours: 546 total, 4 in this make and model, 481 as pilot in command, 195 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg ## 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 20080623840129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080623840129A), Jun 23, 2008: Scwzer G164B, Tallulah, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilotstated that he reduced engine power after takeoff at approximately 200 feet AGL and initiated a left turn. During the turn the pilot realized… 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.