# NTSB FTW02LA221: Grumman G-164A, N48523, New Roads, LA, July 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 29, 2002, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: New Roads, LA - Coordinates: 30.718334, -91.478614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7183&lon=-91.4786&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55336 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55336/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55336 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA221 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During the aerial application flight, the pilot had aligned the airplane for the third swath when the airplane "snapped hard to the left and went into a spin." During the recovery procedure, the airplane struck the ground at a 45 degree angle. Structural damage was found throughout the airframe. ## Factual narrative On July 29, 2002, at 1030 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, single-engine agricultural airplane, N48523, struck the ground following a loss of control while maneuvering near New Roads, Louisiana. The airplane was owned and operated by Ewing Flying Service, LLC., of New Roads, Louisiana, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight, and a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The aerial application flight departed New Roads at approximately 1000. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) the pilot reported that he had aligned the airplane for the third swath when the airplane "snapped hard to the left and went into a spin." The 27-year old pilot stated that the airplane was about 450 feet above the ground (AGL) when the airplane made a complete spin and started into the second. The pilot was successful in recovering the airplane from the spin; however, due to low altitude, the airplane impacted a soy bean field in a 45-degree angle. Structural damage was found throughout the airframe. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48523](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48523-2017-07-18), registration cancelled 2017-07-18, S/N 1659, built 1976 (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 R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1659 - Airframe hours: 6800 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Ewing Flying Service, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 2002, 35 hours before - Departed: HZR, New Roads, LA - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; last flight review January 8, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 1,610 total, 150 in this make and model, 1,550 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °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 20020729021369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020729021369A), Jul 29, 2002: Scwzer G164A, Portallen, LA, No damage. (-23) While making aerial application the pilot pulled out of turn to align with field. Just after the turn the pilot noticed that his airspeed was too slow.… ## Other investigations on N48523 (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC85LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC85LA123), Jun 11, 1985: Grumman G-164A (N48523), Paragould, AR, destroyed ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55336. 415 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 415 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464634&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.