On August 3, 1988, a Grumman G164A (registration N8980H) was involved in an aviation accident near Chenoa, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to maintain control during a forced landing due to an unexplained loss of engine power in cruise flight. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During cruise flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power that did not respond to throttle adjustments. The pilot executed a forced landing on soft terrain, resulting in the airplane nosing over during the rollout.
What happened
While the aircraft was established in cruise flight, the engine began to lose power. The pilot noted that the engine would not respond to throttle movements despite attempts to adjust it. Consequently, a forced landing was executed on soft terrain. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft was conducted to determine the cause of the power loss. No mechanical failure or malfunction was found that would have resulted in the reported loss of power.
Findings
The investigation revealed no evidence of a mechanical issue contributing to the event. The primary factor was the unexplained loss of engine power during cruise flight, which necessitated the emergency landing.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain control during a forced landing due to an unexplained loss of engine power in cruise flight.