# NTSB GAA15CA113: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G 164A, N8372, Bakersfield, CA, June 9, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 9, 2015, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Bakersfield, CA - Coordinates: 35.119998, -119.120002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1200&lon=-119.1200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 27, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Fresno FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91339 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91339/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91339 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a runway excursion, and a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952801), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll, a right quartering tailwind pushed the tail to the left, the airplane exited the dirt strip to the right, where the lower right wing of the bi-plane struck an embankment. The airplane collided with a ditch and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to both the upper and lower left wings. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the landing roll, a right quartering tailwind pushed the tail to the left, the airplane exited the dirt strip to the right, where the lower right wing of the bi-plane struck an embankment. The airplane collided with a ditch and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to both the upper and lower left wings. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8372](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8372-2016-05-23), registration cancelled 2016-05-23, S/N 866, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G 164A (A) - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 866 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 6082.39 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Nelson Kenneth D - Registered owner: Nelson Kenneth D - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 29, 2015, 43 hours before - Departed: MIT, SHAFTER, CA - Destination: MIT, SHAFTER, CA - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2014; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,000 total, 366 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: KBFL, 17 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150609011329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150609011329A), Jun 9, 2015: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, Shafter, CA, Substantial damage. On the last landing of the day after 11 landings on the same dirt road next to a 7 foot deep ditch the aircraft veered right into the ditch while landing… ## Other investigations on N8372 (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA73DKQ11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA73DKQ11), Sep 3, 1972: Grumman G-164A (N8372), Woodville, MS, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91339. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428980&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of conversation (pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428981&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20(pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – upper left wing (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20upper%20left%20wing%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – lower left wing (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20lower%20left%20wing%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.