Grumman G-164A accident near Sullivan, Indiana, August 2, 1989
On August 2, 1989 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N952X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sullivan, Indiana (Sullivan airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
A FAILURE OF THE SUPERCHARGER OIL SEAL WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF AND THE UNCONTROLLED TOUCHDOWN DURING THE FORCED LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE SUPERCHARGER AND SPARK PLUB FOWLING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1989 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sullivan, Indiana · Sullivan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N952X · no longer on the register · serial 466
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE FELT 'MUSHY' DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB. THE NOSE WAS LOWERED AND FULL THROTTLE APPLIED. THE PILOT THEN ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF DURING WHICH CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED A LEAKING OIL SEAL ON THE TURBOCHARGER WHICH RESULTED IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND SPARK PLUGS BECOMING OIL SOAKED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 388 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 222 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,887 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1988; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,650 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N952X 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.