# NTSB LAX78DVA21: Grumman G164-B, N6500K, Wasco, CA, February 1, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: February 1, 1978
- Place: Wasco, CA · WASCO, CA
- Location: 35.5938° N, 119.3671° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasco, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5938&lon=-119.3671&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 13, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143578
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78DVA21
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78DVA21

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0100   78/2/1  NR.WASCO,CA           GRUMMAN G164-B      CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 4500
        TIME - 1150                    N6500K              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - DUSTER STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         WASCO,CA                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ANTI-ICING/DEICING EQUIPMENT-IMPROPER OPERATION OF/OR FAILED TO USE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ICE-CARBURETOR
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
           WEATHER - CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO CARB./INDUCTION SYSTEM ICING
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 4500                       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  350                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        REMARKS- DRY PELLET FERTILIZER BEING DROPPED ON BARE GROUND WHICH HAD BEEN PLOWED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6500K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6500K), registered now, S/N 336B, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G164-B
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Duster Strip

## 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 19780201000809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780201000809A), Feb 1, 1978: Gulstm G164A, Wasco, CA, Substantial damage. Dry pellet fertilizer being dropped on bare ground which had beenwed.

## Other investigations on N6500K (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 CEN24LA257](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA257), Jul 8, 2024: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (N6500K), Sedgwick, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line during the spray pass.
- [NTSB LAX78DVA87](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78DVA87), Sep 30, 1978: Grumman G-164B (N6500K), Shafter, CA, 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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