- Date
- July 12, 1993, 19:00 local (Jul 13, 1993, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Mccrory, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9780Grumman G-164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930712023529A
- Case key
- 18795
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to cylinder failure. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
An agricultural pilot experienced a loss of engine power as the airplane rotated for takeoff. The pilot was not able to clear a willow tree and a ditch at the end of the strip. The investigation revealed that the loss of power was the result of the failure of the number three cylinder.
Factual narrative
On July 12, 1993, at 1900 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N9780, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain during a forced landing near McCrory, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight.
The pilot stated that a loss of engine power was experienced as the aircraft was breaking ground during the takeoff roll. Due to the short length of the airstrip and the barriers at the end of the strip, the pilot felt that aborting the takeoff was not an available option. The pilot broke ground but was not able to clear a willow tree and a ditch at the departure end of the strip.
Examination of the engine by the Federal Aviation Administration inspector confirmed that the loss of power was the result of the failure of the number three cylinder assembly.
The wreckage was released to the operator at the accident site.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9780
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1275
- Airframe hours
- 10,796
- Engine
- P&W R-985-14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Scarbrough, Jimmy R.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 10, 1993 · 221 hours before
- Airport
- runway 18, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,856 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 2,700 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 110 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9780 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.