Grumman G-164A accident near Frederick, Maryland, May 27, 1982
On May 27, 1982 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6620Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frederick, Maryland. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1982 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Frederick, Maryland
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N6620Q · registry record · serial 1693
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT 1 TO 2 OUNCES OF WATER WAS DRAINED FROM THE LOW POINT FUEL SUMP, BUT NO WATER WAS DETECTED FROM THE OTHER SUMPS. HE STATED THAT HE DRAINED THE SUMP UNTIL NO WATER WAS DETECTED. DURING THE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE SURGED TWICE, THEN LOST POWER MOMENTARILY. IT WAS RESTARTED, BUT A SHORT TIME LATER, IT STOPPED AGAIN AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. REPORTEDLY, A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WAS THE ONLY SUITABLE LANDING AREA. DURING THE LANDING, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A CLEAR SPACE BETWEEN THE VEHICLES ON THE ROADWAY. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A CAR, THEN WENT INTO A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. THE CAR STRUCK THE ROAD EMBANKMENT, AND LATER, THE DRIVER DIED. WATER AND MUDDY RESIDUE WERE FOUND IN THE MAIN FUEL STRAINER AND CARBURETOR. WATER WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE FUEL FILTER FOR THE UNDERGROUND FUEL STORAGE TANK AND THE TRUCK-MOUNTED PORTABLE FUEL TANK.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 5,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,700 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-3140 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Martinsburg WV at 1:15 pm
- Destination: Rotstraver PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N6620Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.