Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G 164A accident near Fairview, Kansas, July 18, 2014
On July 18, 2014 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G 164A, registered N6743Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Fairview, Kansas. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The backfire of the engine and its loss of power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2014 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fairview, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G 164A · all G 164As on the register
- Registration
- N6743Q · no longer on the register · serial 1715
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while the airplane was cruising at 600 feet above ground level, the engine backfired and experienced a partial loss of power. He subsequently made an emergency landing to a road. During the landing, the engine experienced a total loss of power, and the airplane stalled, which resulted in a bounced hard landing. The airplane then slid sideways into a telephone pole, which resulted in damage to the wings and fuselage. Due to impact damage, an engine test run could not be conducted. The induction air filter was found distorted outward and opposite from the direction of normal airflow, which is indicative of an engine backfire. A postaccident engine examination revealed that the No. 2 cylinder oil control ring was broken. However, it could not be determined when the oil control ring was broken or if the engine backfiring allowed the ring to break. No other anomalies with the engine were noted. The reason for the engine backfire and subsequent loss of power could not be determined.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 460 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 410 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,863 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 4, 2014
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Precision Aerial AG LLC
The flight
- Departed from: K59 Atchison KS at 1:30 pm
- Destination: K83 Sabetha KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KFNB, 15 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 N6743Q 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.