# NTSB LAX91LA301: Grumman G-164B, N6633K, Eloy, AZ, July 9, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 8, 1991, 22:00 local (Jul 9, 1991, 05:00 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: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27281
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91LA301
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27281/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA301

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN THE TERRAIN CLEARANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A POTENTIAL EMERGENCY LANDING ON A MOONLESS DARK NIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - light condition - dark night
  - visual/aural detection, pilot in command
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST DEPARTED FROM THE AIRSTRIP FOR A NIGHT SPRAY RUN. DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB, THE PILOT SAID HE SENSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING ADEQUATE POWER. THE PILOT ALIGNED THE AIRCRAFT FOR A POSSIBLE LANDING IN AN OPEN AREA WHILE HE ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE POWER PROBLEM. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE RUNWAY. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A DARK NIGHT WITH NO MOON. THE ENGINE AND AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS WERE EXAMINED BY THE FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS. IN THEIR VERBAL REPORT OF THE EXAMINATION, NO AIRCRAFT SYSTEM ABNORMALITIES WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6633K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6633K-2025-04-30), registration cancelled 2025-04-30, S/N 400B (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 R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 400B
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Al Don Dusting Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Al Don Dusting Service, Inc.
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Departed: NONE, ELOY, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 10,800 total, 400 in this make and model, 8,800 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 95 °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 19910708026729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910708026729A), Jul 8, 1991: Scwzer G164B, Eloy, AZ, Substantial damage. Reported appealed engine lacked power on climbout. Hit ground and cartwheeled off end runway. Dark no ground lights

## Other investigations on N6633K (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 WPR24LA282](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA282), Aug 13, 2024: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (N6633K), Durham, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines, which resulted in a wire strike.
- [NTSB CHI99LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA215), Jul 3, 1999: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B (N6633K), Page, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to compensate for the wind conditions. Factors were the sudden windshift and the crops.
- [NTSB CHI97LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA204), Jul 7, 1997: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B (N6633K), Donnelly, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: undetermined event resulting in the broken connecting rod and cylinder.

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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