On August 3, 1996, a Grumman-schweizer G-164A (registration N9853) was involved in an aviation accident near Belgrade, MT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). A factor relating to the accident was: a ditch in the field where the forced landing was executed. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A turbine-powered Grumman G-164A lost all engine power during return from aerial application. The pilot executed a successful touchdown in an open field before the aircraft struck a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was returning from an aerial application mission. During this phase of flight, the turbine-powered Grumman G-164A experienced a complete and sudden loss of power. Despite the mechanical failure, the pilot managed to maintain control and executed a successful touchdown in an open field.
During the landing roll, the aircraft encountered a ditch. The impact with this terrain feature caused the airframe to sustain substantial damage. No further details regarding injuries or specific flight conditions were provided in the source material.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the power loss and the subsequent landing. However, the official report indicates that the specific cause of the engine power failure could not be determined through the available evidence.