Grumman G-164B N6861K

Summary

On 19 May 1999 at about 18:45 local time, a Grumman G-164B registered N6861K was involved in an accident near Okanogan, Washington, 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

19 May 1999 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Okanogan, Washington, United States

Coordinates

48.2206, -119.4497

Aircraft

Grumman G-164B

Registration

N6861K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Okanogan → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA99LA067

Nobody was injured.

A malfunctioning carburetor. Factors include a downdraft, and the soft dirt in a newly plowed field.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While maneuvering over an orchard that he was preparing to spray, the pilot flew through a sudden downdraft which pushed him up against his seat belt and shoulder straps. About two seconds later, the engine quit and could not be started. The pilot elected to attempt the forced landing in an alfalfa field that was straight ahead of him. The aircraft initially touched down in the alfalfa, but bounced back into the air and touched down a second time in an area that had been freshly plowed. The main gear sank into the soft dirt and the aircraft nosed over. During the post-accident engine inspection, the engine would not start until the carburetor had been struck a couple of time with a hammer. After the carburetor was jarred by the hammer, the engine started and was able to be test run. Disassembly of the carburetor did not reveal whether the float had stuck, an orifice had been temporarily blocked, or whether there had been some other malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.