- Date
- September 28, 1991, 22:30 local (Sep 29, 1991, 05:30 UTC)
- Place
- Queen Creek, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N16SSGrumman G164A-450
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report March 10, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910928043699A
- Case key
- 27375
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of the engine cylinder, producing a loss of power. Contributing to the accident was the location of an irrigation ditch next to the landing area and a dark night light condition.
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 certificated commercial pilot was conducting aerial spraying operations over a cotton field at night. While in the middle of a spray run, the pilot noticed sparks coming from the engine. He attempted to gain altitude as the engine began to lose power. The pilot made a forced landing on a dirt road next to the field. During the touchdown, the airplane struck a ditch along the side of the road. The airplane then bounced and nosed over. The pilot received minor injuries. An inspection of the engine revealed that a cylinder had a circumferential separation near the top of the cooling fins.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N16SS
- Reported as
- Grumman G164A-450
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1309
- Airframe hours
- 4,387
- Engine
- P&W R985AN-14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- K & K Aerial Applicators Inc.
- Registered owner
- K & K Aerial Applicators Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 6, 1991 · 267 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Queen Creek, AZ
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
- 38
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 6,182 total · 4,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.