Grumman G-164A accident near Hopewell Township, New Jersey, July 2, 2022
On July 2, 2022 at about 1:44 pm local time, a 1975 Grumman G-164A, registered N8923H, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Hopewell Township, New Jersey. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power while maneuvering at low altitude due to a failure of the airplane’s supercharger.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2022 · about 1:44 pm local time
- Place
- Hopewell Township, New Jersey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A, built 1975 · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N8923H · registry record · serial 1567
- 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 was performing an aerial application flight over a nursery. As he pulled up at the end of a pass, he crossed over an area of trees and heard a “loud bang.” He attempted to maneuver the airplane to land in an open field; however, the airplane “ran out of altitude and airspeed” and impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s vintage radial engine revealed that when rotating the propeller, the drivetrain would rotate freely, and no binding was noted. All the engine cylinders were intact. The supercharger impeller was intact, but further examination revealed that it was not rotating when the propeller was moved by hand. The rear accessory/diffuser housing was removed to expose the supercharger impeller and no damage was noted on the external impeller blades; however, the rear splined impeller shaft ball bearing spacer and supercharger impeller splines were found to have sheared, allowing the impeller to freewheel. Based on this information, it is likely that the failure of the supercharger resulted in at least a partial loss of engine power, and that the failure occurred while the pilot was performing a low altitude maneuver. The pilot was subsequently unable to recover from the resulting loss of airspeed before the airplane impacted the ground.
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 maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng supercharger › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,054 hours in all; 3,480 in this make and model; 5,830 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 10, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Salem Spray Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: 9NJ6 Fairton NJ at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 am from KMIV, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMIV 021354Z AUTO 23008G16KT 10SM CLR 28/21 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP140 T02780211=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 ERA22LA297.