Grumman-Schweizer G-164A accident near Dodge Center, Minnesota, July 22, 2001
On July 22, 2001, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, registered N5398, was destroyed in an accident near Dodge Center, Minnesota (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
The pilot not maintaining directional control on the ground during the takeoff roll. Factors relating to this accident were the total failure of the propeller governor and the corn crop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2001
- Place
- Dodge Center, Minnesota · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Registration
- N5398 · no longer on the register · serial 1148
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that while taking off to the south the airplane did not lift off like normal. The pilot said the airplane moved to the left side of the runway. The pilot said, "I got the left wing in the corn. The airplane went sideways until [the] right gear collapsed. Then it started on fire." An examination of the engine revealed that the propeller governor had failed. An examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,780 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 6,383 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 5, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,884 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 2001; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,371 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985-AN-14B (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Dodge Center MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,640 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from RST, 16 miles away
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 N5398 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.