# NTSB WPR12LA220: Grumman G 164D, N8267K, Nicolaus, CA, May 21, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 2012, 06:37 local (13:37 UTC) - Place: Nicolaus, CA - Coordinates: 38.915279, -121.550277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9153&lon=-121.5503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83701 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83701/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83701 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA220 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a low-altitude maneuver. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=3952700), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Grumman G-164D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=3952700), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Grumman G-164D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=3952700), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman G-164D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=3952700), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Grumman G-164D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3952700), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Witnesses saw the airplane make a low pass across a field, then make a hard banking turn back toward the field, and subsequently impact the ground. Impact damage indicated that the airplane struck the field in a nose-down, wings-level attitude consistent with a loss of control. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 2012, about 0637 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Grumman G-164D, N8267K, impacted terrain during an agricultural application flight near Nicolaus, California. Farm Air Flying Service, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local agricultural flight departed from Farm Air Service facility, Sacramento, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses saw the airplane make a low pass across a field, make a hard banking turn to return towards the field, and impact the ground. The operator reported that the pilot had departed from their base of operations 10 miles south of the accident site to apply 1,000 lbs of fertilizer to a rice field. Investigators examined the wreckage at Plain Parts, Sacramento, on September 27, 2012. The airframe and engine were examined with no mechanical anomalies identified that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was equipped with a Satloc M3 GPS data logging system. The unit was recovered and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder lab for downloading. A factual report is attached to the docket. The download shows the track of the accident airplane during the 13-minute flight as it was applying the fertilizer to the rice field. No abnormal tracks were noted prior to the accident. The airplane came to rest right side up, and the nose of the airplane was partially submerged in the rice field. The airplane impacted the rice field in a nose-low wings level attitude. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8267K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8267K-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 21D, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G 164D - Registry model: [Grumman G-164D](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-g-164d) (registry code 3952700) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21D - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 8878 - Engines: P&W PT6A SER 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Farm Air Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Farm Air Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 2012 - Departed: Sacramento, CA - Destination: Sacramento, CA - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,928 total, 1,379 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KSMF, 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 20120521008449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120521008449A), May 21, 2012: Grumman G-164D, Nicolaus, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On may 21, 2012 at 0637 PDT a 1980 Grumman G-164D turbo ag cat N8267K crashed into a rice field. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft departed from the… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83701. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 512 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - NVM 17 - Specialist's Factual Report (item 2, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NVM%2017%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - NVM 17 - Attachment-1, Satloc Data (item 3, .CSV, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389237&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=NVM%2017%20-%20Attachment-1,%20Satloc%20Data%20-Master.csv - Engine Exam Report (item 4, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Exam%20Report-Master.PDF - SatLoc Return Form Signed (item 5, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410868&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=SatLoc%20Return%20Form%20Signed-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 6, .PDF, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407371&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 7, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo - Right of Airplane at Accident Site (item 8, .PDF, 760 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Right%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site-Master.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.