Grumman-Schweizer G-164B accident near Atlantic, Iowa, September 3, 2001
On September 3, 2001 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, registered N6598K, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic, Iowa (Atlantic Municipal 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during the takeoff and initial climb, and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. Factors relating to this accident were the corn crop and the low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2001 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic, Iowa · Atlantic Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N6598K · registry record · serial 318
- 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 he took off from runway 12 (3,911 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at Atlantic, Iowa, and proceeded south. The pilot said during the takeoff, the airplane's engine attained 2,100 rpm and 34 inches of manifold pressure. The pilot said when the airplane lifted off, his manifold pressure was 30 inches. The pilot said it went down to 28 inches. The pilot said he elected to land in a corn field. He was unable to clear trees that were ahead of him. The pilot said that after the airplane stopped he noticed a fire coming from the left side of the airplane at the cowling. The pilot said he got out of the airplane and walked away. Then a fireball occurred. An examination of the airplane 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 12, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,534 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AIO Atlantic IA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: AIO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 3,911 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 2:25 pm from AIO, 1 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.
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.