# NTSB FTW97LA212: Grumman G-164A, N842KG, Woodsboro, TX, May 31, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 1997, 14:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Woodsboro, TX - Coordinates: 28.229749, -97.320426 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2297&lon=-97.3204&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 7, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20236 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20236/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA212 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power as result of fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane. A factor was the unsuitable terrain available for the pilot to execute the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The operator stated that when he briefed the pilot on the day's mission, he told the pilot that the airplane was serviced with about one hour of fuel which was enough to spray the first field. The airplane departed on the first flight of the day from the operator's private airstrip with 125 gallons of pesticides. While spraying his second field, as he started the pull up for the turn to reverse direction, the engine 'began sputtering and coughing and continued to lose power.' The pilot elected to land on the cultivated field adjacent to a road in order to avoid power lines. During the landing roll on the waist high Milo field, the main landing gear tires sank in the soft ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. Examination of the fuel system revealed that both fuel cells were dry and there was no evidence of fuel spill or leak near the wreckage. Examination of the engine did not provide any evidence of pre-existing anomalies that would have contributed to the loss of engine power. The pilot did not complete the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 1997, at 1435 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A agricultural airplane, N842KG, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following the loss of engine power while maneuvering near Woodsboro, Texas. The non-instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane, owned and operated by a private individual, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 137 at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The airplane departed from the operator's private airstrip at approximately 1345. The pilot told the FAA inspector that responded to the scene of the accident that the airplane departed on the first flight of the day from the operator's private airstrip with 125 gallons of pesticides. The pilot further stated that while spraying his second field, as he started the pull up for the turn to reverse direction, the engine "began sputtering and coughing and continued to lose power." The pilot added that he considered landing on a one-lane country road with power lines on the north end; however, he elected to land on the cultivated field adjacent to the road in order to avoid the wires. The pilot reported that "because of recent rains, he suspected that the field might be soft and muddy, so he slowed the airplane as much as he could." During the landing roll on the waist high milo field, the main landing gear tires sank in the soft ground, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest in the inverted position. The FAA inspector stated that the physical evidence found in the cultivated field was consistent with the heavy application of wheel brakes towards the end of the airplane's landing roll. The operator reported to the NTSB investigator in charge that when he briefed the pilot on the work that was contracted for the day, he told the pilot that the airplane was serviced with about one hour of fuel which was enough fuel to spray one field. The operator did not know why the pilot elected not to refuel the airplane prior to initiating the second field. Examination of the airplane by the owner and the pilot revealed that the airframe and wings incurred structural damage. Inspection of the fuel system by the FAA inspector revealed that both fuel cells were empty and that there was no evidence of any fuel spills near the resting place of the airplane. Further examination of the engine did not reveal any evidence of pre-existing anomalies that would have contributed to the loss of engine power. Numerous attempts, albeit unsuccessful, were made by the investigator in charge to obtain a completed Pilot/Operator Report (NTSB 6120.1/2) from the pilot and the operator. The pilot did not make himself available for a telephone interview. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N842KG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N842KG-1999-12-08), registration cancelled 1999-12-08, S/N 1333 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1333 - Engines: P&W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Patrick Q. Perez - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,600 total, 250 in this make and model, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F ## 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 19970531023689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970531023689A), May 31, 1997: Scwzer G164A, Woodsboro, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot failed to refuel aircraft before spraying second field. Soft soil field landing and subsequent noseover. (-23) the airplane ran out of fuel. Landed in a… 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.