Grumman G164 accident near Maxwell, California, May 12, 2024
On May 12, 2024 at about 7:12 pm local time, a Grumman G164, registered N6612Q, was destroyed in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Maxwell, 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 failure to ascertain a proper touchdown point and late decision to initiate a go-around, which resulted in a subsequent collision with vegetation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2024 · about 7:12 pm local time
- Place
- Maxwell, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164 · all G164s on the register
- Registration
- N6612Q · registry record · serial 163B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- 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 landed long on a dirt runway and realized he was running out of runway. He decided to abort the landing and applied full power as it was too late to stop the airplane. It did not accelerate as he expected due to the soft dirt. The pilot added that the airplane did not have enough airspeed to fly and while in ground effect, it struck a tree limb and cartwheeled. A post-impact fire ensued and the airplane was destroyed. The pilot stated that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,292 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2024
- Medical certificate: Unknown (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R-1340-ANI (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Alaska Air Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Hamilton City CA at 4:45 pm
- Destination: Willows CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KOVE, 27 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KOVE 121853Z AUTO 24004KT 10SM CLR 28/12 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP132 T02830122 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 22, 2024. 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 | Pilot Email Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View 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 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.