Grumman G-164 accident near Walla Walla, Washington, March 2, 1994
On March 2, 1994 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N6612Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Walla Walla, Washington. 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
UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING AFTER A LOSS OF POWER DUE TO A FAILED ENGINE CYLINDER. FACTORS INCLUDE A PARTIAL MAGNETO FAILURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1994 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Walla Walla, Washington · 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
- N6612Q · registry record · serial 163B
- 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 AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A SEVERE MISS WHILE DESCENDING TO APPLICATION HEIGHT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING, BUT THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED, ONE CYLINDER WAS FOUND SPLIT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE MAGNETO MICARTA GEAR FAILED, CAUSING CROSS-FIRING, BLOWING THE DOOR OFF THE AIR CLEANER AND SPLITTING A CYLINDER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,690 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,630 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1994; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,020 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Blue Mountain Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°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.
Other NTSB records under N6612Q 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.