- Date
- December 1, 1993, 09:01 local (15:01 UTC)
- Place
- Parkin, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4582Grumman G-164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 1, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931201045739A
- Case key
- 18972
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 total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available to the pilot 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
The pilot of an agricultural airplane experienced a loss of engine power while the airplane was on initial takeoff climb. The pilot stated that due to his low airspeed and altitude, he elected to land straight ahead in an open wheat field. The airplane nosed over as the main landing gear tires dug into the soft ground, and the airplane came to rest in the inverted position. A detailed examination of the engine and its components failed to produce any mechanical problem that would have prevented normal engine operation.
Factual narrative
On December 1, 1993, at 0901 central standard time, a Grumman G-164A, N4582, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Parkin, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the ferry flight.
According to the operator, the purpose of the flight was to ferry the agricultural airplane to a nearby airstrip to wash and clean the airplane. The operator was told by the pilot that the loss of power occurred as the airplane was over the departure end of the 1,700 foot airstrip, at approximately 50 to 60 feet above the ground. The pilot further stated that due to his altitude and airspeed, he elected to land straight ahead in an open wheat field.
The airplane nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. Damage to the airplane included structural damage to the upper airfoil, fracturing of the rudder and vertical stabilizer, and compression damage to the engine cowling.
A detailed examination of the engine by the owner did not reveal any mechanical defects or anomalies that would have prevented normal engine operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4582
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1064
- Airframe hours
- 4,740
- Engine
- P&W R-985-14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sitz, James A.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1993 · 350 hours before
- Airport
- runway 9, 1,700 × 75 ft, 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
- 46
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 7,625 total · 6,000 in this make and model · 7,500 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JBR, 31 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.