# NTSB FTW94LA142: Grumman G-164A, N8559H, Lindon, CO, May 1, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 1, 1994, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Lindon, CO
- Coordinates: 39.729042, -103.399017 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7290&lon=-103.3990&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 December 7, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19045
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19045/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA142

## Probable cause

INACCURATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION FOR THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR WAS SOFT TERRAIN ON THE LANDING STRIP.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - fence
  - object - tree(s)
- Nose over, other

## Analysis

DURING TAKEOFF ROLL FROM A SOFT GRASS STRIP ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE AND TREES SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS NOSE OFF THE END OF THE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP.  THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED AND NO CHEMICALS WERE SPILLED.

## Factual narrative

On May 1, 1994, between 0600 and 0900 mountain daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N8559H, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a private airstrip near Lindon, Colorado.  The pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area aerial application flight, and no flight plan was filed.

The accident site was on a farm near the unincorporated community of Last Chance, Colorado.  According to the pilot, he had operated from this facility in the past and normally departed to the south.  On this flight, he said that due to the wind, he elected to depart to the north.  The field was soft due to recent rains and the takeoff roll was longer than anticipated.  As the aircraft became airborne, according to the pilot, it struck a fence and some trees and came to rest vertical on the nose.  The pilot said he was not injured and the hopper remained intact.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8559H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8559H-2013-05-14), registration cancelled 2013-05-14, S/N 1409, built 1975 (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)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1409
- Engines: P&W R-985-SE 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: West, Frank Don & Helen
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 1994, 79 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 12,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 11,500 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: AKO, 35 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19940501010479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940501010479A), May 1, 1994: Scwzer G164A, Linson, CO, Substantial damage. Struck a fence at end private strip on takeoff. No chemicals spilled. Contributing factor was soft turf strip.

## Other investigations on N8559H (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW76FRD34](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76FRD34), Mar 26, 1976: Grumman G-164A (N8559H), Elton, LA, substantial damage

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.