- Date
- May 20, 1994, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Stuttgart, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9678Grumman G-164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940520012029A
- Case key
- 19067
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
Was the pilots failure to maintain terrain clearance.
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 was positioning the airplane from Stuttgart airport to a farm. During the flight he was practicing simulated spray runs when the airplane nosed downward. The pilot was not able to stop the descent before the airplane impacted the terrain.
Factual narrative
On May 20, 1994, at 1315 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N9678, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Stuttgart, Arkansas. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
According to the operator, the pilot was positioning the airplane from Stuttgart Airport (SGT) to the operator's farm. During this flight the pilot was practicing simulated spray runs when the airplane nosed downward. He further reported that the pilot was not able to stop the descent before the airplane impacted the terrain.
Numerous attempts to obtain a Pilot/Operator Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were unsuccessful.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9678
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1198
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Heien, George
- Registered owner
- Sells Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- SGT
- Destination
- AR
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
- 20
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 220 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SGT, 8 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.
Other investigations on N9678 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.