Grumman-Schweizer G-164C accident near Olivehurst, California, April 25, 2002
On April 25, 2002 at about 7:57 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164C, registered N6702K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Olivehurst, California. 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
Fuel starvation due to the failure of an engine accessory component. A contributing factor was the rough terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2002 · about 7:57 pm local time
- Place
- Olivehurst, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164C
- Registration
- N6702K · no longer on the register · serial 23C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an agricultural application flight, all engine power was lost. The pilot made a forced landing on a nearby rough field, and during the landing rollout the airplane nosed over. An examination of the engine revealed that a gearbox component broke, which made the fuel control inoperative and resulted in fuel starvation.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,400 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 10,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 15, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,482 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2001; 68 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Marysville CA at 7:54 pm
- Destination: Marysville CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from MYV, 3 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.