# NTSB LAX80FVG34: Grumman G-164, N8388, Palermo, CA, April 26, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 26, 1980
- Place: Palermo, CA · PALERMO, CA
- Location: 39.4307° N, 121.5229° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Palermo, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4307&lon=-121.5229&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 July 3, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 130397
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FVG34
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FVG34

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1479  80/4/26  NR.PALERMO,CA         GRUMMAN G-164       CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1300                    N8388               PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   38, 8700 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            UNK/NR IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         PALERMO,CA                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOAD NOT JETTISONED
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - RICE                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - NOT INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  100                               SWAMPY/WATER
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                                DENSE WITH TREES
        REMARKS- NO. 1 CYL HEAD FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8388](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8388), registered now, S/N 880, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Kister

## 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 19800426010629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800426010629A), Apr 26, 1980: Scwzer G164A, Palermo, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit after leaving dirt strip. Landed in a pasture. Nosed over. Found a cylinder had separated.

## Other investigations on N8388 (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 LAX98LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA255), Aug 3, 1998: Grumman G-164A (N8388), Nelson, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate ground clearance altitude while applying chemicals to a rice field.
- [NTSB LAX82DA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA194), May 26, 1982: Grumman G-164A (N8388), Woodland, CA, destroyed

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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