- Date
- January 19, 1994, 16:45 local (Jan 20, 1994, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- Davis, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8649HGrumman G-164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940119000649A
- Case key
- 28641
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
was that the pilot misjudged the airplane's altitude during the swath run.
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 pilot was conducting an aerial application flight. During the swath run, he misjudged the airplane's altitude and collided with a berm.
Factual narrative
On January 19, 1994, about 1645 hours Pacific standard time, a Grumman 164A, N8649H, collided with terrain about 2 miles southeast of Davis, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) local aerial application flight under 14 CFR Part 137. The airplane, registered to and operated by Sunrise Dusters, Inc., Knights Landing, California, was destroyed. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Martin Brothers airstrip, Davis, California, at 1620 hours.
The pilot submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. He said in the report that during a swath run the airplane struck a dirt bank. He also indicated the airplane did not experience any preimpact malfunctions or failures.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8649H
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1445
- Airframe hours
- 7,565
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Sunrise Dusters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 8, 1993 · 72 hours before
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
- 46
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 17,350 total · 8,725 in this make and model · 17,000 as pilot in command · 85 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 315° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.