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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2024 · about 1:00 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Parsonsburg, Maryland · Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico · cases near this airport · 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 other cases naming the engine
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 2 – Right horizontal stabilizer accident damage
Photograph 4 – Left wing and fuselage accident damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 21, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Inspectors Statement Engine Exam | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8957H on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164 325 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer 325 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 64 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Maryland 837 since 1982 · 111 in the last ten years
- Maryland 2,351 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA25LA004.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.