Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A accident near Parsonsburg, Maryland, October 7, 2024
On October 7, 2024 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, registered N8957H, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Parsonsburg, Maryland (Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico airport). 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 total loss of engine power for reasons that were not determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2024 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Parsonsburg, Maryland · Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N8957H · registry record · serial 1592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While conducting agricultural aerial seed application, the airplane’s engine began to produce white smoke and lost power. The pilot chose a field to land in and the engine subsequently lost power completely. While attempting to clear a tree line, the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted the field at the edge of the trees and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and right horizontal stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s vintage radial engine revealed that there was oil inside the intake system and that the supercharger was seized and could not be rotated. The reason for the seizure of the supercharger 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
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng supercharger › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,350 hours in all; 2,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 8, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 (piston); 8,987 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Pvt MD
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from SBY, 3 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KSBY 071654Z 30008KT 10SM SCT029 24/17 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP107 T02390167
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ERA25LA004.