# NTSB NYC96LA090: Grumman G-164, N602U, Toms River, NJ, April 24, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 24, 1996, 15:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Toms River, NJ - Location: 39.9537° N, 74.1979° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Toms River, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9537&lon=-74.1979&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 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39168 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39168/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA090 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot performed a forced landing following a total loss of engine power during the initial takeoff climb. The airplane collided with trees, and came to rest approximately 1 mile form the airport. Examination of the wreckage by an FAA Inspector did not disclose evidence of malfunctions. Uncontaminated fuel was observed in the fuel tanks and the gascolator. Further examination of the engine revealed no evidence of malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On April 24, 1996, about 1545 eastern daylight time, a Grumman G-164, N602U, was destroyed when it collided with trees during a forced landing after takeoff from the Robert J Miller Air Park, Toms River, New Jersey. The airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial fire fighting flight. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he departed runway 24 at Toms River, in response to fight a brush fire. The airplane was in a climbing left turn, about 300 feet above the ground, when the engine lost total power. He dumped a 2,000 pound water load and performed a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with trees and came to rest approximately 1 mile southeast of Toms River. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Fuel was observed in the fuel tanks and gascolator, with no evidence of contamination. Also, an engine examination was conducted by Aero Engines-Inc., Los Angeles, California, under the supervision of an FAA Inspector. No evidence of mechanical malfunctions were found with the engine during the examination. The pilot had a total flight experience of about 4,690 hours, of which 20 hours were in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N602U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N602U-2014-02-11), registration cancelled 2014-02-11, S/N 331, 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: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 133 - Airframe hours: 5344 - Engines: P&W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Other work use, Part 137 - Registered owner: Downstown Aero Crop Svc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 5, 1995, 8 hours before - Departed: N44 - Airport: N44, Robert J Miller Air Park ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 4,691 total, 20 in this make and model, 2,807 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 17 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: N44, 1 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 19960424008289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960424008289A), Apr 24, 1996: Scwzer G164, Toms River, NJ, Destroyed. Lost power on climbout to dump water on brush fire. Dumped load. Hit trees on forced landing. No defects found. 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.