Grumman G-164 accident near Shiloh, New Jersey, June 6, 2003
On June 6, 2003 at about 1:14 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N10291, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shiloh, New Jersey (Woodcrest Farms 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
The pilot's improper in-flight decision to not jettison his load when he realized that he would not clear the trees. A factor was the pilot's inattention to his airspeed at liftoff and on climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 2003 · about 1:14 pm local time
- Place
- Shiloh, New Jersey · Woodcrest Farms Airstrip · map
- 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
- N10291 · no longer on the register · serial 91
- 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 was making his 4th flight of the day carrying chemicals for spraying. After becoming airborne and approaching a row of trees, he felt a, "burble", and the airplane was unable to clear the trees at the end of the runway. The airplane flew through the tops of the trees, and settled to the ground beyond the trees in a level attitude. The pilot reported that he was unaware of his airspeed at liftoff and climb. Further the pilot elected not to dump the 1,200 pounds of chemicals onboard, which would have decreased his weight by about 25 percent.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,350 hours in all; 7,800 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 9,350 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,802 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 2003; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985-AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JY17 Shiloh NJ at 2:14 pm
- Destination: JY17 Shiloh NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,303 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from MIV, 11 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.