Grumman G-164B accident near Rowland, North Carolina, October 5, 1982
On October 5, 1982 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N48498, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rowland, North Carolina (Davis airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- October 5, 1982 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rowland, North Carolina · Davis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N48498 · no longer on the register · serial 518
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FERRIED TO A NEARBY AIRPORT FOR WINTER STORAGE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND RPM WAS LOST. THE PILOT TURNED AND LANDED IN A PLOWED FIELD WHERE THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT SUSPECTED A MAGNETO PROBLEM FROM MOISTURE CREATING CROSS-FIRING, MISFIRING OR CARBON TRACKS. HE STATED THAT HE ALTERNATED FROM RIGHT TO LEFT TO BOTH MAGNETOS, BUT COULD NOT REGAIN POWER. THE MAGNETOS CHECKED GOOD BEFORE TAKEOFF. ALSO BEFORE THIS FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD SAT OUTSIDE WITHOUT BEING FLOWN FOR 5 DAYS. DURING THAT TIME, THERE HAD BEEN HEAVY RAIN. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD DRAINED THE SUMPS BEFORE THE FLIGHT, BUT NOTED NO WATER IN THE FUEL.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,010 hours in all; 1,250 in this make and model; 285 in the last 90 days; 6,585 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,850 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 285 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Rowland NC at 8:30 am
- Destination: MEB Maxton NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°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.
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.