# NTSB MIA97LA210: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N7981, Woodeberry, TN, July 13, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 13, 1997, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Woodeberry, TN
- Coordinates: 35.819816, -86.070198 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8198&lon=-86.0702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38312
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA210
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38312/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA210

## Probable cause

in-flight collision with a fence during takeoff.  Factors in this accident were the pilot's inadequate pre-flight by not calculating the total weight of the airplane, and high temperatures.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft weight and balance - not verified, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - temperature,high (contributing factor)
  - object - fence

## Analysis

The flight was departing from a 1,500 foot grass runway, and did not accelerate.  The pilot managed to get airborne, but struck a 6- to 7 foot high fence at the departure end of the runway, with the landing gear, and impacted in a field about 75 feet from the fence.  The pilot stated that the 'RPM and manifold pressure was normal...the aircraft felt like it did not accelerate as fast as normal...the aircraft may have been heavy for the runway length and density altitude.'

## Factual narrative

On July 13, 1997, about 1800 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, N7981, registered to Kiser Aviation, crashed during takeoff at Woodberry, Tennessee.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137, local aerial application flight.  The airline transport-rated pilot was not injured.  The airplane was destroyed.  The fight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot said he was departing from a 1,500-foot grass runway, and that the airplane "did not accelerate as fast as it should."  He managed to get airborne, but struck a 6- to 7-foot-high fence at the departure end of the runway, with the landing gear, and impacted in a field about 75 feet from the fence.

According to the FAA inspector's report, the pilot stated that the "RPM and manifold pressure was normal...the aircraft felt like it did not accelerate as fast as normal...the aircraft may have been heavy for the runway length and density altitude."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7981](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7981-2013-08-22), registration cancelled 2013-08-22, S/N 845, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer 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)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 845
- Airframe hours: 8350
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Kiser Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 1997, 355 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 10,100 total, 350 in this make and model, 9,200 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MBT, 20 nm away

## 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 19970713018229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970713018229A), Jul 13, 1997: Scwzer G164A, Woodberry, TN, Destroyed. Struck fence off departure end runway after failing to lift. Too heavy for short runway and density altitude. (-23) on 07/13/97, aircraft N7981 a Grumman…

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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