# NTSB LAX04LA126: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N6774K, Tracy, CA, February 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 17, 2004, 14:33 local (22:33 UTC) - Place: Tracy, CA - Coordinates: 37.683334, -121.449996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6833&lon=-121.4500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58768 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58768/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA126 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during cruise flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - berm - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis While the pilot was cruising between airstrips during an agricultural flight, the engine's power output fluctuated. Then, engine power was lost. The pilot attempted to make a forced landing in a nearby field. However, on approach the airplane impacted a dirt berm and nosed over in the soft field. Thereafter, it was destroyed by a ground fire. The event that precipitated the loss of engine power was not ascertained because of the fire damage to the airplane. ## Factual narrative On February 17, 2004, at 1433 Pacific standard time, a Grumman-Schweizer, G-164B, N6774K, nosed over during the landing flare/touchdown about 8 miles north of Tracy, California. The airplane was substantially damaged during the impact sequence and was subsequently destroyed by a post impact ground fire. The airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. Trinkle Ag Flying, Inc., Tracy, operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137. The agricultural flight originated from a nearby field about 1400. The pilot indicated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that while cruising between airstrips, the engine began to "flutter," and he experienced a loss of engine power. Unable to sustain flight, the pilot made a forced landing on a nearby dirt airstrip. Approaching the airstrip, the airplane's landing gear impacted a dirt berm. Thereafter, the airplane nosed over in the adjacent muddy field. The airplane was equipped with a Pratt & Whitney, R-1340 engine, which was manufactured in the 1940's. It had been operated for about 709 hours since receiving its last overhaul. The airplane's total airframe time was 11,773 hours. The event that precipitated the loss of engine power was not ascertained. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6774K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6774K-2019-09-19), registration cancelled 2019-09-19, S/N 463B, 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: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 463B - Airframe hours: 11773 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Trinkle And Boys Agricultural Flying Inc - Registered owner: Trinkle Ag Flying, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2003, 20 hours before - Departed: Tracy, CA - Destination: Tracy, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 15, 2003; seat: single; flight hours: 25,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: TCY, 8 nm away ## Other investigations on N6774K (2) 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 LAX95LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA195), May 25, 1995: Grumman G-164B (N6774K), Robbins, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power due to a separation of the number 6 cylinder, and the nose over during the subsequent forced landing. - [NTSB LAX94LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA205), Apr 23, 1994: Grumman G-164B (N6774K), Robbins, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE BRAKES. 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.