Grumman G-164A N9830

Summary

On 19 May 1995 at about 16:00 local time, a Grumman G-164A registered N9830, operated by Paul P. Miller, was involved in an accident near Colusa, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 May 1995 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Colusa, California, United States

Coordinates

39.2698, -122.0499

Aircraft

Grumman G-164A

Registration

N9830

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Paul P. Miller

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA192

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's misjudged flare height and timing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and hard landing. Factors in the accident were the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the lack of a suitable forced landing area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ON HIS SECOND SPRAY RUN SPREADING RICE SEEDS WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT DESCRIBED THE POWER LOSS AS A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN POWER OUTPUT WITHOUT ROUGHNESS. IN SPITE OF FULL THROTTLE APPLICATION, THE ENGINE POWER OUTPUT CONTINUED TO DECLINE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A FORCED LANDING IN A FLOODED FIELD, WHICH WAS THE ONLY CLEAR AREA VOID OF OBSTRUCTIONS HE FELT HE COULD MAKE WITH THE POWER OUTPUT AVAILABLE. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT STALLED ABOUT 10 FEET OFF THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND DURING AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.