Grumman G-164 accident near Park River, North Dakota, July 27, 1995
On July 27, 1995 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N949X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Park River, North Dakota. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of power due to the primary lead in the left magneto being grounded against the case, and the improper clearance of the breaker point gaps. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain on which to perform the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1995 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Park River, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164 · all G-164s on the register
- Registration
- N949X · registry record · serial 463
- 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 pilot reported that the engine run-up, magneto check, and takeoff were normal. He reported that the engine started to pop and shake when he reduced engine power to 2050 RPM's. He applied full throttle but the engine failed to produce additional power. The airplane began to lose altitude and airspeed. An emergency landing was performed into a reservoir. The first post accident engine run was unsuccessful. The left and right magneto breaker point gaps were found set at .003 of an inch instead of .009 of an inch as required. Also the primary lead in the left magneto was grounded against the case and distributor cover. After the two discrepancies were corrected, the engine started and ran to 2050 RPM.
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: 370 hours in all; 73 in this make and model; 176 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days; 291 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,347 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 1995; 157 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y37 at 5:30 pm
- Destination: Y37
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI95LA250.