# NTSB SEA85LA074: Grumman 164A, N8495, Ritzville, WA, March 14, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 14, 1985, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Ritzville, WA
- Coordinates: 47.069618, -118.469619 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0696&lon=-118.4696&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40128
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA85LA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40128/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA074

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING LANDING THE ACFT CAUGHT A GUST OF WIND AND DRIFTED RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT BY USE OF RUDDER AND AILERON, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ACFT THEN NOSED VER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8495](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8495-1994-04-25), registration cancelled 1994-04-25, S/N 883 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN 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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 883
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Lund Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1984
- Departed: 8WA4, RITZVILLE, WA
- Destination: 8WA4, RITZVILLE, WA
- Airport: Lund Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 283 total, 10 in this make and model, 222 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 3 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F
- Altimeter: 31.00 inHg

## 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 19850314007709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850314007709A), Mar 14, 1985: Scwzer G164A, Ritzville, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot lost control on landing and veered to right of runway. Aircraft finally nosed over.

## Other investigations on N8495 (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 CHI88DEP11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88DEP11), Aug 17, 1988: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A (N8495), Plover, WI, 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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