# NTSB LAX83LA243: Grumman G-164A, N48381, Willows, CA, May 19, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 19, 1983, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Willows, CA
- Coordinates: 39.500797, -122.280456 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5008&lon=-122.2805&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: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23721
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83LA243
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23721/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA243

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED HE NOTICED SIGNS OF A 'POWER LOSS'. TRYING TOLAND ON A HIGHWAY HE ABANDONED HIS APPROACH BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC AND HEADED FOR A PLOWED FIELD. WITHOUT TIME TO JETTISON HIS LOAD HE DID NOT CLEAR A DITCH LEVEE, IT CAUGHT THE MAIN GEAR AND THE ACFT BOUNCED INTO THE FIELD WHERE IT NOSED OVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND NO CAUSE FOR MALFUNCTION COULD BE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N48381 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1622
- Airframe hours: 2210
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: World Agri-Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 1983, 77 hours before
- Airport: runway 34, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 15,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: C1C, 21 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 19830519020679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830519020679A), May 19, 1983: Scwzer G164A, Willows, CA, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on climbout. Struck a levee and overturned on forced landing. Fouled sparkplugs shorted harness.

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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