On August 9, 1992, a Grumman G-164B (registration N6809K) operated by Freeway AV Ag, Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Tolleson, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Striking a washed-out ravine during takeoff, which caused a stall and subsequent bouncing until the tailwheel struck an embankment. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A taildragger aircraft struck a washed-out ravine crossing the runway during takeoff from a private dirt strip, causing a stall and subsequent bouncing until the tail struck an embankment.
What happened
The pilot was conducting an agricultural aerial application flight, initiating operations from a privately owned dirt airstrip. During the initial phase of the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered significant surface irregularities. Specifically, the aircraft struck a washed-out ravine that crossed directly over the runway path.
This impact caused the nose to pitch up abruptly, leading to an immediate stall. The pilot attempted to recover but was unable to regain sufficient flying speed. As a result, the airplane bounced two additional times along the runway surface. The sequence of events concluded when the tailwheel struck a dirt embankment located at the end of the runway.
The investigation
The narrative focuses on the immediate physical interactions between the aircraft and the airfield infrastructure. No mechanical failure or pilot error regarding controls is explicitly cited beyond the inability to gain speed after the stall. The primary factor was the terrain condition at the point of takeoff.
Probable cause
Striking a washed-out ravine during takeoff, which caused a stall and subsequent bouncing until the tailwheel struck an embankment.