- Date
- June 11, 1994, 09:25 local (16:25 UTC)
- Place
- Bakersfield, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8507HGrumman G-164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940611015189A
- Case key
- 28767
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
The in-flight fire due to the spontaneous combustion of sulfur dust and subsequent forced landing. A factor was the high temperature.
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
During the last application of sulfur dust to a field, the pilot experienced an in-flight fire in the spreader. The pilot made a forced landing and nosed over. According to the operator, the sulfur dust had a spontaneous combustion due to the high ambient air temperature.
Factual narrative
On June 11, 1994, at 0925 hours Pacific daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N8507H, collided with terrain 5 miles west of Bakersfield, California. The aircraft was operated by Vince Crop Dusters I, Buttonwillow, California, and was engaged in aerial application operations. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the certificated airline transport pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the airplane was being operated under visual flight rules.
In a telephone interview, the operator stated that the pilot was spraying the field with sulfur dust when he encountered an in-flight fire. The pilot landed in a field and flipped over. The operator indicated that spontaneous combustion of the sulfur had occurred due to high temperatures. In his report, the pilot stated the dust caught fire in the spreader in an explosion like condition. The pilot indicated no mechanical malfunction or failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8507H
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1384
- Airframe hours
- 2,145
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Vince Crop Dusters I
- Registered owner
- Vince Crop Dusters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 23, 1994 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- Buttonwillow, CA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
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
- 48
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 18,000 total · 10,000 in this make and model · 16,000 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 150 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F
- Altimeter
- 28.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BFL
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8507H · 4
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.