Grumman G-164 accident near Pauma, California, October 28, 1991
On October 28, 1991 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N664U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pauma, California. It was an aerial observation 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 A RESTRICTED FUEL TANK VENT LINE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 1991 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Pauma, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164 · all G-164s on the register
- Registration
- N664U · registry record · serial 400
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND QUIT. HE LANDED ON A GOLF COURSE AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT. RESPONDING FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED THAT THEY EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT ON THE ACCIDENT SITE AND FOUND NO FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS. HOWEVER, A FUEL LINE WAS RUPTURED NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE. AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND FOUND NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO A PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL VENT LINE, WHICH PREVENTED THE FUEL TANK FROM PROPERLY VENTING TO THE ATMOSPHERE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,558 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 6,953 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,560 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1991; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.