# NTSB LAX89DUJ07: Grumman G-164A, N5252, Eloy, AZ, July 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 15, 1989, 07:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Eloy, AZ
- Location: 32.7559° N, 111.5548° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Eloy, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7559&lon=-111.5548&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 September 5, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26133
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89DUJ07
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26133/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DUJ07

## Probable cause

INAEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL STARVATION DURING THE CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, DUE TO VERY LITTLE FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANKS. THE ROUGH/UNEVEN DESERT TERRAIN WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG TAKEOFF, ON A FLT TO MOVE THE ACFT TO ANOTHER LOCATION, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 150 FT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT NOSED OVER DRG AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON DESERT TERRAIN. IN AN INTERVIEW AFTER THE ACDNT, THE PLT RPRTD THERE WAS ENOUGH FUEL ON BOARD THE ACFT TO REACH THE DESTN. HOWEVER, WHEN IT WAS EXAMINED AFTER THE ACDNT, VERY LITTLE FUEL WAS FOUND REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANKS. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5252](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5252-1996-02-24), registration cancelled 1996-02-24, S/N 538 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 538
- Airframe hours: 5228
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Farm America
- Registered owner: Maxim B. Shears
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 1989, 78 hours before
- Airport: Eloy "Y"

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 11,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 86 °F

## 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 19890715025299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890715025299A), Jul 15, 1989: Scwzer G164A, Eloy, AZ, Substantial damage. Engine quit on takeoff. Nosed over on the forced landing. Fuel tanks were empty.

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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