- Date
- June 9, 1985, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Biggs, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N363YGrumman G-164
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850609023919A
- Case key
- 24737
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The plt stated that while loading the acft with spray mix he looked at his fuel quantity gage and believed he had enough fuel for one more aerial application flt. The plt continued to state that shortly after liftoff the engine quit and a forced landing was accomplished in a wheat fld. 360 ft after touchdown the acft hit a drainage ditch and was substantially damaged. Post accident examination of the acft revealed that the fuel tank was empty. The plt stated on his report to the NTSB that he believed the fuel gage had stuck, giving him a false indication.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N363Y
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 209
- Engine
- P&W R-985-AN1, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- James R. Morris
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 11, 1985 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- RLA · Biggs, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 16,500 total · 16,002 in this make and model · 120 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.