Grumman G-164A accident near Muskegon, Michigan, June 2, 1994
On June 2, 1994 at about 11:10 am local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8939H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Muskegon, Michigan. 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 PROPELLER NOT BEING ABLE TO BE FEATHERED BY THE PILOT, INADEQUATE ALTITUDE FOR A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING, AND THE FAILURE OF THE COMBUSTION SECTION. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE STALL/MUSH ENCOUNTERED BY THE PILOT DUE TO THE WINDMILLING PROPELLER'S DISC DRAG AND RAPID DECELERATION OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1994 · about 11:10 am local time
- Place
- Muskegon, Michigan · 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
- N8939H · no longer on the register · serial 1575
- 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 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT HAD COMPLETED ONE PASS OVER A FIELD AND WAS MAKING A CLIMBING TURN IN PREPARATION FOR A SECOND SWATH RUN. DURING THE CLIMBING TURN THE PILOT REPORTED THE ENGINE QUIT WITH A LOUD BANG WHILE OVER A LAKE NEXT TO THE AREA BEING SPRAYED. THE PILOT SAID HE TURNED TOWARD SHORE AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED. HE SAID HE PITCHED THE AIRPLANE DOWN TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE UNTIL REACHING AN ALTITUDE AT WHICH THE PILOT FLARED THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING. AFTER LANDING IN THE WATER THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND SANK. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE TURBOPROP ENGINE'S COMBUSTION CHAMBER HAD RUPTURED AND THAT IT DID NOT HAVE A NEGATIVE TORQUE SENSING SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW THE PROPELLER TO FEATHER WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL PROPELLER FEATHERING SYSTEM.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 13,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1994; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-1-101 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 13C Lakeville MI at 10:40 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:20 am from MKG, 5 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 N8939H 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.