- Date
- June 29, 1994, 19:10 local (Jun 30, 1994, 00:10 UTC)
- Place
- Searcy, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N526YGrumman G-164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 19100
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 due to water contamination of the fuel system. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain available to the pilot for the forced landing and his inadequate preflight inspection.
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 non-endorsed student pilot experienced a complete loss of engine power while attempting to return to the airport following intermittent power interruptions during climb out. The airplane impacted a levee during the landing roll and nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. The fuel system was found contaminated with water.
Factual narrative
On June 29, 1994, at 1910 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N526Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Searcy, Arkansas. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the maintenance flight.
According to the pilot, who was not endorsed for solo flight in the airplane, engine power was intermittently interrupted several times during initial takeoff climb. While attempting to return to the airport, a total power loss was experienced. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a levee and nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position.
The operator stated that the airplane had been out of service for a long period of time and a maintenance test flight was required for the reconstruction of the airplane following wind damage. The operator further stated that water was found in the fuel system during the recovery of the wreckage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N526Y
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 163
- Airframe hours
- 6,165
- Engine
- P&W R-985-AN1, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Aircrop Incorporated
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 20, 1994 · 1 hours before
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
- 47
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 250 total · 1 in this make and model · 250 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LRF, 35 nm away
Other investigations on N526Y · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.