Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B accident near Buckeye, Arizona, August 19, 2010
On August 19, 2010 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B, registered N6607Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Buckeye, Arizona. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An increase in engine rpm and vibration, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and runway excursion. The reason for the increased engine rpm and vibration could not be determined because of postaccident fire damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2010 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6607Q · no longer on the register · serial 139B
- 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 had flown the airplane about 4.2 hours on the date of the accident with no discrepancies noted. During the accident takeoff, the pilot noted normal acceleration, engine indications, and tail liftoff. After completing 2/3 of the takeoff roll, the engine rpm increased to 2,600-2,700 (the maximum allowable is 2,550 rpm). The pilot felt a moderate-to-severe vibration and immediately initiated procedures for an aborted takeoff. He retarded the throttle to idle, applied maximum braking, and held the control stick full aft. As the airplane slowed to 20-30 knots, he steered the airplane away from a fence at the end of the runway onto hard packed desert terrain. After rolling a short distance, the left main landing gear encountered a depression in the terrain and sheared off. The airplane settled onto the left wing and was almost immediately engulfed in fire. Fire consumed the cabin and inboard wing areas, as well as the aft section of the engine, which exposed the gears in the accessory section. Fire consumed all accessories, including both magnetos. A postaccident examination of the engine could not determine a reason for the increase in rpm and vibration due to fire damage.
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
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Effect on equipment
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 13,730 hours in all; 886 in this make and model; 185 in the last 90 days; 137 in the last 30 days; 6,079 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 24, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 2010
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Crawford Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: Buckeye AZ at 6:30 pm
- Destination: Buckeye AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KBXK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N6607Q 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.