Grumman-Schweizer G-164A accident near Battle Mountain, Nevada, June 21, 1989
On June 21, 1989 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, registered N9830, was substantially damaged in an accident near Battle Mountain, Nevada. It was a ferry 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 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IN FLIGHT DUE TO A BROKEN NUMBER TWO ROCKER ARM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WHICH RESULTED IN THE PILOT FLARING PREMATURELY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1989 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Battle Mountain, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Registration
- N9830 · no longer on the register · serial 1257
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD, FLARED HIGH TO AVOID IMPACT WITH A VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A FENCE AND NOSED OVER INTO A DITCH. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A BROKEN NUMBER TWO ROCKER ARM.
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: 5,000 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 19 in the last 30 days; 4,901 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,948 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1989; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gaudry AG Services, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: WMC Winnemucca NV at 2:45 pm
- Destination: EKO Elko NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from BAM, 18 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.
Other NTSB records under N9830 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.