Grumman-Schweizer G-164B accident near Stanwood, Washington, February 19, 1998
On February 19, 1998 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, registered N48493, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stanwood, 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
The pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat. Factors included carburetor icing conditions and soft terrain in the forced landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 1998 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Stanwood, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N48493 · no longer on the register · serial 49B
- 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 reported that while engaged in aerial spraying, approximately 30 minutes after takeoff and 15 minutes after beginning to spray, he noted a reduction in engine power. He advanced the throttle, at which point the engine 'sputtered' and 'popped' a few times and then quit. The pilot performed a forced landing into a field. The airplane encountered soft terrain during the forced landing roll and flipped over. The pilot stated he did not use carburetor heat at the time. Post-accident examination of the engine did not reveal any abnormalities, and the operator successfully test-ran the engine following the accident. Temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees C and dewpoint of 6 degrees C were reported at two nearby weather reporting stations during the accident time frame. This temperature/dewpoint combination represents a hazard of 'serious [carburetor] icing at cruise power', according to FAA data.
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: 1,904 hours in all; 1,148 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,388 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1997; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 75S Burlington WA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:57 pm from AWO, 10 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.