Pilot Debrief

Grumman G164 near Hays, KS — 2019-08-20

Final reportCEN19FA278
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Date
2019-08-20
Location
Hays, KS, USA
Aircraft
Grumman G164
Registration
N3631Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1

Probable cause

The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing an agricultural application flight, and the airplane was observed departing a private airstrip to the east toward a field west of the airstrip. The airplane impacted terrain in a steep, nose-down attitude. A postimpact fire ensued. There were no witnesses to the accident. Impact signatures and twisting of the wreckage were indicative of a nose-low spin, consistent with an aerodynamic stall . Flight control continuity could not be verified due to fire damage, but no anomalies were noted with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's toxicology tests results showed no drug or alcohol use. Thus, it is likely that aerodynamic stall resulted from the pilot allowing the airplane to exceed its critical angle of attack during a turn.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen a different flight path to avoid terrain.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 9 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents9

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