Grumman G-164B accident near Bainbridge, Georgia, June 27, 1997
On June 27, 1997 at about 3:25 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N903X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bainbridge, Georgia. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 failure to maintain proper airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, and improper flare during an emergency (precautionary) landing, which resulted in a hard touchdown and subsequent nose over. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's improper use of powerplant controls, the resultant reduction of climb performance, and lack of experience in make/model of aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 1997 · about 3:25 pm local time
- Place
- Bainbridge, Georgia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N903X · no longer on the register · serial 424
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was on initial takeoff climb, turning to the northwest with 1,245 pounds of water, en route to a practice agricultural spray area. He said he reduced the throttle and rpm to the climb power setting, while reducing the turn and passing through 300 feet. The airplane started to sink. Reportedly, he added power without changing the climb profile, and the airplane continued to sink. The pilot scanned the engine instruments which indicated normal. He then turned to line up with a peanut field to make a precautionary landing. He pulled the power to the idle position and started to obtain a three-point attitude. Reportedly, he rounded out (flared) high, and the airplane landed hard. The airplane then bounced about 40 feet across a dirt road, yawed to the left, and collided with the ground in a left wing low attitude. During the occurrence, the left main landing gear collapsed, and airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he had 3.5 hours in the Grumman G-164B airplane.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 202 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 137 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 142 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,939 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1997; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,725 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN143 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BGE at 3:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from OZR, 50 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.