# NTSB SEA88LA098: Grumman G-164, N6963K, Ritzville, WA, May 20, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 20, 1988, 10:35 local (17:35 UTC)
- Place: Ritzville, WA
- Coordinates: 47.069019, -118.4692 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0690&lon=-118.4692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40820
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA88LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40820/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA88LA098

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, climb
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb
  - stall/mush - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, climb
  - object - pole (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WHILE ON AN AERIAL APPLICATIONS FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS CLIMBING TO CLEAR POWER LINES WHEN A WHIRLWIND WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A POWER POLE AND DESCENDED ONTO THE GROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6963K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6963K-1995-02-01), registration cancelled 1995-02-01, S/N 528B (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: S28B
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Moore Aircraft Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: 33S, RITZVILLE, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 6,000 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 5,900 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19880520042119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880520042119A), May 20, 1988: Scwzer G164B, Ritzville, WA, Destroyed. Struck a mid field powerline and crashed during a spray run. Pilot blamed a whirlwind as cause of the wire strike.

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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