# NTSB FTW85LA271: Grumman G-164A, N8375, Tallulah, LA, July 3, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 3, 1985, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Tallulah, LA
- Coordinates: 32.399856, -91.179618 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3999&lon=-91.1796&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21786
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85LA271
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21786/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA271

## 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
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, ground personnel (cause)
  - aircraft service - improper, ground personnel (cause)
  - crew/group coordination - not maintained, ground personnel (cause)
  - crew/group briefing - not followed, ground personnel (cause)
  - proper climb rate - not possible, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AG PLT REALIZED THAT HE COULD NOT CLEAR WIRES AT THE END OF THE RWY. THE PLT DUMPED HIS LOAD OF FERTILIZER AND ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER AROUND THE WIRES, HOWEVER DURING THE MANEUVER, THE ACFT STALLED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT GROUND PERSONNEL HAD SUBSTITUTED AMMONIUM NITRATE FOR UREA IN THE FERTILIZER LOAD, INCREASING THE ACFT'S GROSS WEIGHT BY 800 LBS. THE PLT WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE SUBSTITUTION PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. BY VOLUME, AMMONIUM NITRATE IS HEAVIER THAN UREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8375](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8375-1995-07-18), registration cancelled 1995-07-18, S/N 867 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 867
- Airframe hours: 6062
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Farm Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 14, 1985, 40 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 95 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 91 °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 19850703031899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850703031899A), Jul 3, 1985: Scwzer G164A, Tallulah, LA, Destroyed. Dumped chemical load at end of runway and stalled while maneuvering around powerlines. Failed to check load.

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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