Grumman G 164A accident near Garwood, Texas, April 27, 2018
On April 27, 2018 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1970 Grumman G 164A, registered N6637, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Garwood, Texas (Private airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 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
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2018 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Garwood, Texas · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G 164A, built 1970 · all G 164As on the register
- Registration
- N6637 · no longer on the register · serial 766
- 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 commercial pilot was departing on an agricultural application flight when the engine experienced a partial loss of power shortly after takeoff. The pilot released part of the load of fertilizer and attempted to land in a nearby field. The airplane contacted a levee during the landing, which separated the landing gear. The airplane became airborne again, then settled back onto the ground and subsequently nosed over. The reported weather conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power; however, the airplane was operating at a high power setting for takeoff. Therefore, it is unlikely that carburetor icing was present. A postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies and the reason for the partial 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 (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,140 hours in all; 1,125 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,115 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 5, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 2018; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero AG Services INC
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Garwood TX
- Destination: PVT Garwood TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from KARM, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 4, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Teardown Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Carburetor Icing Probability Chart | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N6637 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.