Grumman G-164A accident near Macksville, Kansas, July 27, 1996
On July 27, 1996 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N4630, was substantially damaged in an accident near Macksville, Kansas (Smith 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
failure of the pilot to allow the airplane to achieve sufficient airspeed for takeoff, and the resultant loss of aircraft control. Factors relating to the accident were: the rough runway, and the mound of dirt at the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1996 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Macksville, Kansas · Smith · 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
- N4630 · registry record · serial 1176
- 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 airport's runway was rough, and during the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne with insufficient airspeed for flight. The pilot aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane went off the runway, hit a dirt mound at the end of the runway, and came to rest inverted. The pilot did not report any airplane or engine malfunction.
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, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,157 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 191 in the last 90 days; 93 in the last 30 days; 4,241 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,032 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1996; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 42K at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,600 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 355° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.