# NTSB FTW91DPG04: Grumman G-164B, N8106K, Vanndale, AR, May 17, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 17, 1991, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Vanndale, AR
- Location: 35.3153° N, 90.7711° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Vanndale, AR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3153&lon=-90.7711&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 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23194
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91DPG04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23194/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91DPG04

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO VERIFY HIS WEIGHT AND BALANCE. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Forced landing, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING LOADED BY AN UNSUPERVISED HELPER WHO WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH WEIGHT LIMITATIONS OF THE AIRPLANE. THE HELPER FILLED THE HOPPER TO THE TOP. THE PILOT DID NOT CHECK HIS LOAD PRIOR TO TAKEOFF NOR DID HE ATTEMPT TO COMPUTE A WEIGHT AND BALANCE. THE LOAD IN THE HOPPER RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE BEING OVER THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. FOLLOWING THE TAKEOFF AND DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO ESTABLISH A NORMAL CLIMB RATE AND THE PILOT LANDED IN A CULTIVATED FIELD AND THE MAIN LANDING GEAR SANK INTO THE SOFT EARTH AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER TO THE INVERTED POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8106K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8106K-2013-05-13), registration cancelled 2013-05-13, S/N 567B (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164B
- Registry model: [Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-schweizer-a-c-gulfstream-am-g-164b) (registry code 3979904) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 567B
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Norman L. Burnette
- Registered owner: Burnette Flying Service

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 18,000 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °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 19910517016519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910517016519A), May 17, 1991: Scwzer G164B, Vanndale, AR, Destroyed. Failed to climb after takeoff. Turned to avoid trees and settled to ground impact. Ground crew overloaded hopper.

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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