# NTSB LAX95LA192: Grumman G-164A, N9830, Colusa, CA, May 19, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 1995, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Colusa, CA - Coordinates: 39.269767, -122.049903 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2698&lon=-122.0499&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29099 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA192 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29099/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA192 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged flare height and timing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and hard landing. Factors in the accident were the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the lack of a suitable forced landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - swampy - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ON HIS SECOND SPRAY RUN SPREADING RICE SEEDS WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT DESCRIBED THE POWER LOSS AS A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN POWER OUTPUT WITHOUT ROUGHNESS. IN SPITE OF FULL THROTTLE APPLICATION, THE ENGINE POWER OUTPUT CONTINUED TO DECLINE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A FORCED LANDING IN A FLOODED FIELD, WHICH WAS THE ONLY CLEAR AREA VOID OF OBSTRUCTIONS HE FELT HE COULD MAKE WITH THE POWER OUTPUT AVAILABLE. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT STALLED ABOUT 10 FEET OFF THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 1995, about 0900 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman G- 164A, N9830, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing in a flooded rice field near Colusa, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during aerial application operations. The aircraft was operated by Miller Flying Service of Colusa, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated at a farm road near the field about 10 minutes prior to the accident as part of a series of flights conducted that morning. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he was on his second spray run spreading rice seeds when the engine began to lose power. The pilot described the power loss as a gradual reduction in power output without roughness. In spite of full throttle application, the engine power output continued to decline. The pilot elected to attempt a forced landing in a flooded field, which was the only clear area void of obstructions he felt he could make with the power output available. The pilot said the aircraft stalled about 10 feet off the ground and the aircraft landed hard. The operator reported in a telephone interview that no discrepancies were found during an examination of the engine. The operator declined to complete a NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, Form 6120.1/2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9830](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9830-2000-02-11), registration cancelled 2000-02-11, S/N 1257 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1257 - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Paul P. Miller, doing business as Miller Flying Service - Registered owner: Chuck Jones Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °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 19950519014479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950519014479A), May 19, 1995: Scwzer G164A, Colusa, CA, Substantial damage. Lost power on spray run. Made hard landing in flooded rice field. No engine defects found. ## Other investigations on N9830 (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 SEA89LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA89LA115), Jun 21, 1989: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A (N9830), Battle Mountain, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN FLIGHT DUE TO A BROKEN NUMBER TWO ROCKER ARM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT FLARING PREMATURELY. - [NTSB FTW75FRD54](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75FRD54), May 14, 1975: Grumman G-164A (N9830), Eunice, LA, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI74FEA41](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74FEA41), May 24, 1974: Grumman G-164A (N9830), Madison, IN, 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.