Grumman G-164B N903X

Summary

On 27 June 1997 at about 15:25 local time, a Grumman G-164B registered N903X was involved in an accident near Bainbridge, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 June 1997 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Bainbridge, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Grumman G-164B

Registration

N903X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA198

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, and improper flare during an emergency (precautionary) landing, which resulted in a hard touchdown and subsequent nose over. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's improper use of powerplant controls, the resultant reduction of climb performance, and lack of experience in make/model of aircraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated he was on initial takeoff climb, turning to the northwest with 1,245 pounds of water, en route to a practice agricultural spray area. He said he reduced the throttle and rpm to the climb power setting, while reducing the turn and passing through 300 feet. The airplane started to sink. Reportedly, he added power without changing the climb profile, and the airplane continued to sink. The pilot scanned the engine instruments which indicated normal. He then turned to line up with a peanut field to make a precautionary landing. He pulled the power to the idle position and started to obtain a three-point attitude. Reportedly, he rounded out (flared) high, and the airplane landed hard. The airplane then bounced about 40 feet across a dirt road, yawed to the left, and collided with the ground in a left wing low attitude. During the occurrence, the left main landing gear collapsed, and airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he had 3.5 hours in the Grumman G-164B airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.