Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B accident near Mayfield, Kentucky, June 16, 2010
On June 16, 2010 at about 6:05 pm local time, a Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B, registered N6780K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mayfield, Kentucky (Mayfield Graves Country Airpor). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 16, 2010 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Mayfield, Kentucky · Mayfield Graves Country Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6780K · no longer on the register · serial 471B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was conducting a short-field landing as part of a Federal Aviation Administration Part 137 agricultural certification flight. He reported that as he approached runway 36, his airspeed and altitude were appropriate. Upon initial contact with the runway, the airplane bounced and the pilot corrected the airplane pitch to slightly nose-down and continued the landing sequence. After contacting the runway again, the airplane entered an excessive nose-down attitude, which the pilot tried to correct by pulling aft on the flight controls. The airplane continued to nose over and came to rest inverted, substantially damaging the empennage, forward fuselage, and wings. The pilot did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. He noted that his total flight experience was approximately 374 hours; of which, about 25 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The winds reported at an airport 20 miles northwest of the accident location, about the time of the accident, were calm.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 374 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 282 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 27, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,299 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kentucky Air Service Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: M25 Mayfield KY
- Destination: M25 Mayfield KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,001 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PAH, 20 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.