Grumman G164 accident near Pista La Julia, Ec, March 30, 2017
On March 30, 2017 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Grumman G164, registered HCBPI, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Pista La Julia (Pvt airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 2017 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Pista La Julia, Ecuador · Pvt
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164 A · all G164s on the register
- Registration
- HCBPI · no longer on the register · serial 1109
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 30, 2017, about 1645 universal coordinated time, a Grumman 164A, Ecuadorian registration HC-BPI, was destroyed when it impacted electrical wires and terrain near Pista La Julia, Ecuador. The foreign certificated pilot was fatally injured. The flight was on a local aerial application flight at the time of the accident.This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Dirección General de Aviación Civil (DGAC) of Ecuador. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Dirección General de Aviación Civil Departamento de Seguridad de Vuelo Buenos Aires 149 y Av. 10 de Agosto Casilla 2077 Quito Ecuador Tel.: (593) 2-544-274 Fax: (593) 2-563-995 AFTN: SEQUYAX Telex: 22710 DACUIO ED This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Government of Ecuador.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-27 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: Pista La Julia
- Destination: Pista La Julia
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.