# NTSB FTW98LA164: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N6720K, Tuckerman, AR, March 25, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 25, 1998, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Tuckerman, AR
- Coordinates: 35.719081, -91.199951 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7191&lon=-91.2000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20565
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA164
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20565/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA164

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors were the wet and soft runway conditions.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

During the landing roll, the right main landing gear dropped into a mud hole covered by 6 inch tall Bermuda grass. The tire pushed up the mud instead of rolling through the hole, and the airplane came to a sudden stop and nosed over to the inverted position.

## Factual narrative

On March 25, 1998, at 0900 central standard time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B aerial application airplane, N6720K, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll on the wet grass runway at a private airstrip near Tuckerman, Arkansas.  The airplane was owned and operated by Tuckerman Aviation, Tuckerman, Arkansas, under Title 14 CFR Part 137.  The commercial pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight and a flight plan was not filed.  The time of departure is unknown.

During personal interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, and on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that during the landing to the south, the right main gear dropped into a mud hole underneath 6 inch tall Bermuda grass.  The tire pushed up the mud, instead of rolling through the hole, and the airplane came to a sudden stop and nosed over to the inverted position.  Structural damage occurred to the rudder, vertical stabilizer, engine and propeller.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6720K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6720K), registered now, S/N 437B, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental R-975 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-r-975-series) (registry code 17037, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 437B
- Airframe hours: 3760
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Curtis A. Gates
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 1998, 34 hours before
- Airport: runway 18, 2,500 × 40 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °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 19980325004239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980325004239A), Mar 25, 1998: Scwzer G164B, Tuckerman, AR, Substantial damage. Acft ran through a mud hole on landing and flipped over, Tuckerman, AR. (.4)during the landing roll, the right main landing gear dropped into a mud hole…

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.

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