Grumman-Schweizer G-164B accident near Salem, Iowa, August 7, 2008
On August 7, 2008 at about 1:10 am local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, registered N48412, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Salem, Iowa. 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 an undetermined reason. Contributing to the accident was the high grass encountered during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2008 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Salem, Iowa · 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
- N48412 · no longer on the register · serial 15B
- 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 accident occurred during an aerial application flight. The pilot reported that during a course reversal the engine "felt" as if it had no power. He referenced his engine instruments and noted no anomalies. He assumed that the airplane had encountered an area of disturbed air, and elected to continue onto the next spray run. During the next course reversal, the engine started "popping" like an engine misfire. The engine instruments were referenced again, and no anomalies were noted. The pilot switched magnetos, verified that the mixture was full rich, and selected a full low pitch propeller setting. Despite the pilot's corrective actions, there was no change in engine performance. The pilot performed a three-point landing in a nearby grass field, and the airplane nosed-over during the landing roll when it encountered tall grass. The pilot had flown over 10 hours on the day of the accident without any engine discrepancies. The airplane had departed approximately 40 minutes before the accident with 35 gallons of fuel on board. A postaccident engine examination failed to identify the cause of the engine power loss.
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 maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,134 hours in all; 1,532 in this make and model; 306 in the last 90 days; 258 in the last 30 days; 6,115 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,501 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MPZ Mount Pleasant IA
- Destination: MPZ Mount Pleasant IA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 am from MPZ, 9 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.
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.