# NTSB LAX08CA082: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N63D, Colfax, WA, March 22, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 22, 2008, 09:14 local (16:14 UTC)
- Place: Colfax, WA
- Coordinates: 46.858612, -117.413887
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8586&lon=-117.4139&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67709
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67709/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA082

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed that resulted in a stall mush, and, the subsequent failure to maintain terrain and obstacle clearance during the takeoff initial climb. Contributing factors were the tailwind weather condition, and the one-way direction requirements of the airstrip.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot said that he was departing for an aerial application flight on runway 25 with a 12- to 15-knot tailwind. He had 1,400 pounds of dry fertilizer in the hopper. Takeoff from this airport must be in one direction due to climbing terrain and runway slope. He started a right turn down a valley when he felt a loss of lift. He started to dump his applicant, but the weight transfer was too slow. The airplane descended into power lines and impacted the ground. It continued through a fence and impacted a light pole.

## Factual narrative

The pilot said that he was departing for an aerial application flight on runway 25 with a 12- to 15-knot tailwind. He had 1,400 pounds of dry fertilizer in the hopper. Takeoff from this airport must be in one direction due to climbing terrain and runway slope. He started a right turn down a valley when he felt a loss of lift. He started to dump his applicant, but the weight transfer was too slow. The airplane descended into power lines and impacted the ground. It continued through a fence and impacted a light pole.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N63D-2008-09-25), registration cancelled 2008-09-25, S/N 301B, built 1977 (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 R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 301B
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: TLC Flying, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: S94, Colfax, WA
- Destination: S94
- Airport: S94, Whitman County Airport, runway 25, 3,209 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 5,500 total, 84 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.55 inHg
- Observed at: PUW, 24 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 20080322012609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080322012609A), Mar 22, 2008: Scwzer G164B, Colfax, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 0917 PDT the pilot performed a downwind take-off from the airport with 1400LBS of dry fertilizer and approximately 65 gallons of jet…

## Other investigations on N63D (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 MIA77FKQ26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77FKQ26), Aug 2, 1977: Grumman G-164B (N63D), Tchula, MS, substantial damage

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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