Grumman G-164A accident near Chatsworth, New Jersey, July 2, 2004
On July 2, 2004 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N915X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chatsworth, New Jersey (Haines Airstrip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A blocked internal oil passage, which resulted in inadequate lubrication of the blower impeller shaft, and the subsequent partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2004 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chatsworth, New Jersey · Haines Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N915X · registry record · serial 434
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, and about 100 feet above the ground, the airplane's engine began to lose power. The pilot began to dump the load of fertilizer the airplane was carrying and then performed a forced landing into a cranberry bog. After touchdown, the airplane nosed over. An inspection of the engine revealed that the impeller shaft of the blower section of the engine was bent, and its surface was discolored from heat and exhibited signs of rotational scoring. A 1/16-inch oil passage that lubricated the impeller shaft bearings was found blocked.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 11,035 hours in all; 8,500 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 4, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,553.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 8, 2004; 54.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Chatsworth NJ at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 1,850 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from ACY, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.