# NTSB MIA79FKJ65: Grumman G-164, N617U, Ashford, AL, September 1, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 1, 1979
- Place: Ashford, AL · ASHFORD, AL
- Location: 31.1853° N, 85.2362° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ashford, AL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1853&lon=-85.2362&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 11, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133785
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA79FKJ65
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FKJ65

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3719   79/9/1  NR.ASHFORD,AL         GRUMMAN G-164       CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 2457
        TIME - 1600                    N617U               PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 855 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ASHFORD,AL                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: VALVE ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  855                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - BEANS                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  220                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- NUMBER 9 CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE FAILED.BROKEN PARTS NOT RECOVERED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N617U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N617U-2012-10-03), registration cancelled 2012-10-03, S/N 345, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164
- Registry model: [Grumman G-164](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164) (registry code 3952702) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790901025649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790901025649A), Sep 1, 1979: Gulstm G164, Ashford, AL, Substantial damage. Engine lost power during spray run. Landed in field. Flipped over. Found broken valve and hole in cylinder.

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.

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