Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A accident near Rome, Oregon, May 26, 2024
On May 26, 2024 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1974 Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, registered N9853, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Rome, Oregon. 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 maintain airplane control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2024 · about 4:00 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Rome, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164A, built 1974 · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N9853 · registry record · serial 1291
- 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 landing on a gravel road, the right main tire sank into soft terrain along the right side of the road. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the upper wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,372 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 14,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 26, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett Airesearch TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Oregon Trail Air Service LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 am from KREO, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KREO 261552Z AUTO 07007KT 13/M01 A3009 RMK AO1 SLP174 T01331011=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of aircraft from its right side.
Photograph 2 – View of aircraft from aft.
Photograph 3 – View of damage to upper wing.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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 N9853 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9853 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164 325 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer 325 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Garrett Airesearch TPE-331 7 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Oregon 1,864 since 1982 · 279 in the last ten years
- Oregon 7,004 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N9853 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR24LA165.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.