# NTSB FTW91DPG14: Grumman G-164A, N6615, Swifton, AR, July 15, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1991, 17:04 local (22:04 UTC)
- Place: Swifton, AR
- Coordinates: 35.821161, -91.135623 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8212&lon=-91.1356&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23203
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91DPG14
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23203/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91DPG14

## Probable cause

PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE HOPPER, CHEMICAL FIRE, AND THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR. A FACTOR WS THE LOSS OF VISUAL OUTSIDE REFERENCE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, maneuvering - aerial application
  - aerial application equipment - failure,partial (cause)
  - fire extinguishing equipment - not possible, pilot in command
  - acft/equip,inad cockpit/workplace,fumes/smoke, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - hazardous material - fire (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - wire,transmission
- Abrupt maneuver, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - failure,total (cause)
  - maneuver - abrupt, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - fuel system,tank - ruptured
  - fuselage - fire

## Analysis

DURING DAY AGRICULTURE OPERATIONS, THE PILOT LOST OUTSIDE VISUAL REFERENCES DUE TO DENSE SMOKE COMING FROM THE CHEMICAL HOPPER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING ON THE ADJACENT RUNWAY. DURING THE APPROACH THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SET OF ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION WIRES. FOLLOWING THE LANDING THE HOPPER ERUPTED INTO FIRE, SO THE PILOT ABRUPTLY PULLED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE RUNWAY. DURING THE ABRUPT GROUND MANEUVER, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKE OFF. FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF THE LANDING GEAR, THE FUEL CELL RUPTURED AND IGNITED, RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE BEING CONSUMED BY FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6615](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6615-2013-09-19), registration cancelled 2013-09-19, S/N 749, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 749
- Airframe hours: 6231
- Engines: P&W R1340-AM1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Deral Duncan & Tony Kinder, doing business as Pirate Aviation
- Registered owner: Deral Duncan & Tony Kinder
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1991, 98 hours before
- Airport: NONE, Unknown, runway 36, 2,000 × 75 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,450 total, 198 in this make and model, 1,350 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 78 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19910715027449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910715027449A), Jul 15, 1991: Scwzer G164A, Swifton, AR, Destroyed. Fire erupted in flight and dense smoke. Landed nearby strip and jumped out. Believed fuel leak and chemical static.

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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