# NTSB LAX91LA299: Grumman G-164B, N6628Q, Crows Landing, CA, July 9, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 9, 1991, 06:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: Crows Landing, CA
- Coordinates: 37.389022, -121.049613 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3890&lon=-121.0496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA299
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27279/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA299

## Probable cause

THE PILOT LANDING HIS AIRPLANE ERRONEOUSLY ON THE WRONG LANDING SURFACE. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE:  SUNGLARE AND ITS INTERFERENCE WITH THE PILOT'S VISION AND THE SOFT TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING LANDING TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT DUG INTO THE SOIL AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS LANDING INTO THE MORNING SUN.  HE SAID THAT HE LANDED ON WHAT LOOKED LIKE THE 'WORK STRIP', BUT HE WAS ACTUALLY LANDING ON A STRIP OF LAND WHICH WAS PARALLEL TO THE WORK STRIP.  THE SOIL WAS SOFT AND UNEVEN DUE TO IT BEING RECENTLY PLOWED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6628Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6628Q), registered now, S/N 154B, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164B
- 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
- Serial number: 154B
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 650 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Bettencourt Flying Svc., Inc.
- Registered owner: Bettencourt Flying Svc., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: NONE, DELHI, CA
- Airport: C06, Crows Landing

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 9,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19910709026719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910709026719A), Jul 9, 1991: Scwzer G164B, Crows Landing, CA, Substantial damage. Blinded by rising sun. Landed adjacent to ag strip runway in a plowed wet field and nosed over.

## Other investigations on N6628Q (3)

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 WPR11LA384](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA384), Aug 15, 2011: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (N6628Q), Oakesdale, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to land with a high tailwind, which resulted in a nose-over.
- [NTSB WPR09LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA227), May 4, 2009: Grumman G-164B (N6628Q), Colfax, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to excessive wear in several carburetor components that led to a malfunction of the carburetor.
- [NTSB LAX83LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA009), Oct 26, 1982: Grumman G-164B (N6628Q), Coolidge, AZ, 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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