Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164C accident near Glenn, California, May 12, 2021
On May 12, 2021 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 1978 Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164C, registered N6596K, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Glenn, California. 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
The pilot’s fuel mismanagement, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, a total loss of engine power, and an off-airport hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2021 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Glenn, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164C, built 1978 · all G-164Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6596K · registry record · serial 6C
- 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, he departed for the aerial application flight with the fuel gauge indicating a half-full tank of fuel and a full load of product. About 100 ft above ground level the engine lost total power. The pilot elected to make a forced landing to a narrow dirt frontage road. The airplane landed hard and came to rest upright. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed that no usable fuel was present in the center fuel tank nor from the wing fuel tanks. Maintenance personnel reported that they checked the fuel gauge in the cockpit, and it revealed that the center fuel tank was indicating half full. When the float connected to an arm in the center tank was manipulated, the fuel gauge in the cockpit moved but not in a manner coincident with the placement of the float, and that the fuel gauge may have been reporting false quantities of fuel. An engine inspection revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he did not refuel the airplane based on the fuel gauge indications that the fuel tank was half full. Thus, the pilot did not properly manage the airplane’s fuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the total loss of engine power.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Fuel exhaustion during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: November 16, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,400 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT-6-41 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Jones Aviation Inc.
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KOVE, 21 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOVE 121753Z AUTO 13004KT 10SM CLR 28/06 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP151 T02830056 10283 20150 53009
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 8, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mpolit Roc WPR21LA200 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Dom | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation Jburg Jones Aviation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Video of Damaged Airplane (Operator) | MOV file | Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N6596K 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.