# NTSB MIA05CA144: Grumman American G-164, N460Y, Sabana Grande, PR, August 4, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2005, 07:20 local (11:20 UTC) - Place: Sabana Grande, PR - Coordinates: 18.049999, -67.059722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.0500&lon=-67.0597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 62164 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05CA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62164/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=62164 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA144 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a downdraft in mountainous terrain resulting in an uncontrolled descent and collision with the terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - aerial application - flight into adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - downdraft - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated that he departed from the Lajas Agriculture Airport at about 7 am in his Grumman G-164 with a northeast heading. On board the airplane was a load of mircoflex fertilizer, which was to be sprayed on a private farm in Sabana Grande. His first swift run over the farm was successful but as he begun his first procedure turn, he experienced a strong downdraft on the leeward side of the mountain. Unable to recover from the downdraft, the airplane lost altitude and crashed into a backyard of a private home. Neither he nor anyone on the ground was hurt and the private home sustained little damage. He further added the weather was for a visual flight rules operation; with the winds from the north and the temperature was 30 degrees Celsius. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated the airplane impacted the ground straight down in a flat attitude and with no forward direction. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 2005, about 0720 Atlantic standard time, a Grumman G-164, N460Y, registered to a private individual and operated by Ponce Crop Dusting Services, as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural, aerial application flight, stalled during a low altitude maneuver and impacted with terrain near Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot received minor injuries. The airplane incurred substantial damage and a private home incurred damage. The flight originated from the Lajas Agriculture Airport, Lajas, Puerto Rico, earlier that day, about 0700. The pilot stated that he departed from the Lajas Agriculture Airport at about 7 am in his Grumman G-164 with a northeast heading. On board the airplane was a load of mircoflex fertilizer, which was to be sprayed on a private farm in Sabana Grande. His first swift run over the farm was successful but as he begun his first procedure turn, he experienced a strong downdraft on the leeward side of the mountain. Unable to recover from the downdraft, the airplane lost altitude and crashed into a backyard of a private home. Neither he nor anyone on the ground was hurt and the private home sustained little damage. He further added the weather was for a visual flight rules operation; with the winds from the north and the temperature was 30 degrees Celsius. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident stated the airplane impacted the ground straight down in a flat attitude and with no forward direction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N460Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N460Y), registered now, S/N 151, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman American G-164 - Registry model: [Grumman G-164](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164) (registry code 3952702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs R755A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755a-series) (registry code 35006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 151 - Engines: Jacobs R-755-A2 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Ponce Crop Dusting Services - Registered owner: Segundo Garcia Ruiz - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Lajas, PR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; flight hours: 13,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 5 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: TJPS ## 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 20050804018639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050804018639A), Aug 4, 2005: Scwzer G164, Sabana Grande, PR, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted], pilot of N460Y, while spraying fertilizer at a farm in Sabana Grande, during a turn, he experienced a strong downdraft… ## Other investigations on N460Y (1) 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 MIA77FKA01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA77FKA01), Nov 1, 1976: Grumman G-164 (N460Y), Yauco, PR, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2005, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=62164. 320 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous: Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445000&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.