Grumman Acft Eng Cor G-164A accident near La Salle, Colorado, August 1, 2012
On August 1, 2012 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Grumman Acft Eng Cor G-164A, registered N9822, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near La Salle, Colorado (Low Level Strip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight 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 loss of engine power due to the detached distributor rotor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2012 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- La Salle, Colorado · Low Level Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor G-164A
- Registration
- N9822 · no longer on the register · serial 1282
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff for the aerial application flight, the airplane’s engine ”popped and banged.” The pilot decided to jettison the airplane’s load and return to land at the departure airport. However, while returning to the airport, the engine began to surge repeatedly between full power and a total loss of power, and the pilot decided to land in a nearby alfalfa field, where the airplane nosed over during the forced landing. Examination of the engine revealed that a screw that secured the distributor rotor to the brass gear had come out, which resulted in the detached rotor moving loosely inside the magneto. Internal damage to the rotor and magneto was consistent with the rotor rubbing inside of the magneto. This distributor rotor separation and subsequent movement most likely resulted in the rough running engine and the subsequent loss of engine power.
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
What happened, in order
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Roll over during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,001 hours in all; 2,600 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 2,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 28, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Low Level Dusting CO INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE La Salle CO at 3:20 pm
- Destination: NONE La Salle CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KGXY, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N9822 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.