Grumman G-164A accident near Lost Hills, California, January 22, 1993
On January 22, 1993, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6654, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lost Hills, California (Blackwell Land Company 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
THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT DUE TO A BINDING LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1993
- Place
- Lost Hills, California · Blackwell Land Company · 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
- N6654 · no longer on the register · serial 777
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN HE APPLIED SOME LEFT BRAKE PEDAL TO AID IN MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE RELEASED THE BRAKE PRESSURE THE LEFT BRAKE PEDAL REMAINED DEPRESSED WITH THAT BRAKE STILL ACTIVATED. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN SOME DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY USING RIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE AND RUDDER; HOWEVER, AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS BECAME LESS AND LESS EFFECTIVE AND THE AIRCRAFT EVENTUALLY RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT A POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD BIND WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED.
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: 730 hours in all; 186 in this make and model; 101 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 647 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,423 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 11, 1992; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: San Joaquin Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 73L at 11:40 pm
- Destination: 73L
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,200 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.