# NTSB WPR09CA393: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, N6697Q, Westley, CA, August 13, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 13, 2009, 10:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Westley, CA - Coordinates: 37.540828, -121.289367 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5408&lon=-121.2894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74512 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA393 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74512/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74512 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA393 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and preparation, and his decision to operate the airplane well in excess of its maximum gross weight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weight/balance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane did not climb after takeoff and was very sluggish. He held the airplane in ground effect to gain airspeed so that he could clear the chain link fence at the end of the runway. As the pilot attempted to initiate a climb, the airplane started to descend towards a sewage pond. The pilot attempted to jettison the load, but the airplane impacted the sewage pond and nosed over. The operator estimated that the airplane's gross weight at the time of the accident was approximately 6,100 pounds. Weight and Balance Data taken from the G-164B Pilot's Operating Handbook indicates that the maximum gross weight for the G-164B is 5,200 pounds. ## Factual narrative The agricultural airplane was overloaded for conditions during takeoff. The pilot reported that the airplane did not climb after takeoff and was very sluggish. He held the airplane in ground effect to gain airspeed so that he could clear the chain link fence at the end of the runway. As the pilot attempted to initiate a climb, the airplane started to descend towards a sewage pond. The pilot attempted to jettison the load, but the airplane impacted the sewage pond and flipped over. The operator estimated that the airplane's gross weight at the time of the accident was approximately 6,100 pounds. Weight and Balance Data taken from the G-164B Pilot's Operating Handbook indicates that the maximum gross weight for the G-164B with the R-1340 engine is 5,200 pounds. Civil Aeronautics Manual (CAM) 8, paragraph 8.10-4 (b) "Maximum Weight" states that establishing a maximum weight for an agricultural aircraft is not required. "In lieu thereof, maximum weights for the special purpose loads (e.g. hopper or tank capacities) should be selected by the applicant and demonstrated in a flight check." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6697Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6697Q), registered now, S/N 207B, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN ACFT ENG COR-SCHWEIZER G-164B - Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 207B - Airframe hours: 11086 - Engines: P&W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Valley Crop Dusting Inc - Registered owner: Valley Crop Dusting Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Westley, CA - Destination: Westley, CA - Airport: Private Airstrip, runway 27, 1,800 × 40 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 9, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 5,141 total, 400 in this make and model, 4,748 as pilot in command, 203 in the last 90 days, 94 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: MOD, 13 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 20090813014479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090813014479A), Aug 13, 2009: Scwzer G164B, Westley, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported that "approximately 3/4 of the way down the runway, the aircraft was not accelerating. The aircraft lifted off but couldn't fly." The… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74512. 430 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 430 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319094&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.