Grumman G164 accident near Chestertown, Maryland, September 18, 2016
On September 18, 2016 at about 6:40 pm local time, a 1974 Grumman G164, registered N75EP, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Chestertown, Maryland (Private Agricultural Field). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power due to a failure of the No. 3 cylinder head, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with ground equipment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2016 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Chestertown, Maryland · Private Agricultural Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164 A, built 1974 · all G164s on the register
- Registration
- N75EP · no longer on the register · serial 1394
- 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 day before the accident, the pilot was performing aerial application work when he noticed a significant loss of engine power and made an emergency landing in a corn field. Maintenance personnel inspected the engine and replaced the No. 2 cylinder, test ran the engine, and returned the airplane to service. The following day, the pilot ran the engine for several minutes before flight to ensure that it was operating normally. Experiencing no anomalous behavior, the pilot conducted a short-field takeoff, but immediately after rotation and during initial climb, the engine lost partial power. The pilot was unable to climb or maintain altitude and the airplane settled back onto the ground before colliding with farm equipment. Postaccident examination revealed that the No. 3 cylinder failed catastrophically. The failed accident cylinder was not examined in detail, and the manner in which the failure occurred was not determined.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Landing area overshoot during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,645 hours in all; 206 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 1,630 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 4, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,092 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2016; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt-Whitney 1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Chestertown MD at 6:30 pm
- Destination: Chestertown MD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from BWI, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation_pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Maryland State Police Pilot & Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation_faa | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records Excerpt | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array-accident Site and Damage | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.