# NTSB OAK78DVA53: Grumman G-164A, N6538, Tulare, CA, July 8, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 8, 1978
- Place: Tulare, CA · TULARE, CA
- Location: 36.2002° N, 119.3361° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tulare, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2002&lon=-119.3361&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 August 1, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141732
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK78DVA53
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK78DVA53

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1240   78/7/8    TULARE,CA           GRUMMAN G-164A      CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 31, 6250
        TIME - 1030                    N6538               PX-  0  0  0  FERRY                     TOTAL HOURS, 2000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WESTERNAIR STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TULARE,CA                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PILOT TOOK OFF WITH FUEL SELECTOR IN OFF POSITION.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6538](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6538), registered now, S/N 670, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164A
- Registry model: [Grumman G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164a) (registry code 3952704) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Westernair Strip

## 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 19780708016429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780708016429A), Jul 8, 1978: Gulstm G164A, Tulare, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot took off with fuel selector in off position.

## Other investigations on N6538 (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 OAK74FXQ38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74FXQ38), May 14, 1974: Grumman G-164 (N6538), Fallon, NV, 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.

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