# NTSB WPR11LA384: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, N6628Q, Oakesdale, WA, August 15, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 2011, 07:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Oakesdale, WA - Coordinates: 47.138053, -117.234725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1381&lon=-117.2347&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81496 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA384 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81496/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81496 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA384 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land with a high tailwind, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3952802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot took off in the tailwheel-equipped airplane and noted that the wind velocity was higher than expected, so he elected to return to the departure strip. The pilot reported that the wind produced a 12- to 15-mph tailwind for landing and that the combined effects of the tailwind and excessive airspeed caused the airplane’s tail to immediately begin to rise after touchdown. After rolling about 20 feet, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot said that the accident could have been prevented if he had flown in less windy conditions and that he should have executed a go-around. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 2011, about 0715 Pacific daylight time, a Schweizer G-164B, N6628Q, nosed over during landing at a private airstrip outside of Oakesdale, Washington. Fender Air Service, Inc., owned and operated the airplane as an aerial application flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, empennage, and firewall. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight. The pilot reported that he was flying from one landing strip to another; however, the wind velocity was higher than expected after takeoff. He elected to return to the departure strip so that he could call the other location to check the current wind conditions. The pilot reported that the wind was blowing out of the south-southwest, which favored a 12- to 15-mile-per-hour tailwind. While landing the tail wheel equipped airplane, the pilot stated that due to the tailwind and excessive airspeed the airplane’s tail immediately began coming up after touchdown. After 20 feet of roll, it nosed over and came to rest inverted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6628Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6628Q), registered now, S/N 154B, built 1976 (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: 154B - Airframe hours: 9934 - Engines: P&W R-1340-S3H1-G 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Fender Air Service, Inc - Registered owner: Darrell L Fender - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 2010 - Departed: Oakesdale, WA - Destination: Oakesdale, WA - Airport: Private Dirt Strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 17, 2010; seat: center; flight hours: 1,050 total, 250 in this make and model, 226 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 16 knots, gusting 27 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: PUW, 24 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 20110815017039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110815017039A), Aug 15, 2011: Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B, Oakesdale, WA, Substantial damage. The pilot attempted a landing with a left quartering tailwind when a gust of wind lifted the aircraft tail causing the pilot to lose control. The propeller… ## Other investigations on N6628Q (3) 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 WPR09LA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA227), May 4, 2009: Grumman G-164B (N6628Q), Colfax, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to excessive wear in several carburetor components that led to a malfunction of the carburetor. - [NTSB LAX91LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91LA299), Jul 9, 1991: Grumman G-164B (N6628Q), Crows Landing, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: THE PILOT LANDING HIS AIRPLANE ERRONEOUSLY ON THE WRONG LANDING SURFACE. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: SUNGLARE AND ITS INTERFERENCE WITH THE PILOT'S VISION AND THE SOFT TERRAIN. - [NTSB LAX83LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA009), Oct 26, 1982: Grumman G-164B (N6628Q), Coolidge, AZ, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 18, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81496. 355 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 355 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359759&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.