- Date
- May 23, 1998, 10:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place
- Huntington, UT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N744YGrumman G-164
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980523010739A
- Case key
- 20621
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 pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed.
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 loaded the aircraft with 200 lbs. of insecticide and 60 gals. of fuel prior to departure. His first pass of spraying the field was successful, but he did not maintain as fast an airspeed on his second pass. As he was rolling out from his second pass, he pulled up over a 50 foot bluff and the aircraft 'mushed in or sank.' There were ridges on both sides, preventing the aircraft from turning. He attempted to fly up the ridge, but the aircraft stalled, impacting the ridge and slid approximately 100 feet before coming to a stop.
Factual narrative
On May 23, 1998, at 1040 mountain daylight time, a Grumman G-164, N744Y, was substantially damaged during impact with terrain while maneuvering near Huntington, Utah. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was being operated by the owner under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight which originated from Huntington Municipal Airport, Huntington, Utah, approximately 10 minutes before the accident. No flight plan had been filed.
According to the pilot, he loaded the aircraft with 200 lbs. of Puridan and 60 gals. of fuel prior to departure. He departed Huntington airport and arrived at the assigned field at 1038. His first pass was successful "because [he] had plenty of airspeed," but according to the pilot, he did not maintain as fast an airspeed on his second pass. As he was rolling out from his second pass, he pulled up over a 50 foot bluff and the aircraft "mushed in or sank." The pilot stated there were ridges on both sides, preventing him from turning.
In his accident report, the pilot stated the plane was behind its power curve by that time and he just had to ride it out. He attempted to fly up the ridge, but the aircraft stalled, impacting the ridge and slid approximately 100 feet before coming to a complete stop.
Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that the left main landing gear was separated from the aircraft, all four wings were bent, both propeller blades were destroyed, and the engine cowling was bent.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N744Y
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 321
- Engine
- P&W R-985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Mark E. Johanson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1998 · 12 hours before
- Departed
- 69V · UT
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
- 49
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,350 total · 45 in this make and model · 18 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 2 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.