Casualties unknown

2004-03-26: Grumman G-164B (N8276K) — Central Farmers Flying Service — Mamou, LA

Mamou, LA, US

On March 26, 2004, a Grumman G-164B (registration N8276K) operated by Central Farmers Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Mamou, LA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Contact with a crawfish boat on the runway during approach, which led to landing gear failure upon touchdown at the home base. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot returning home after a landing attempt on a dirt strip between two crawfish ponds struck a boat with the right main gear, causing the aircraft to collapse and flip over upon touchdown.

What happened

The incident occurred while an experienced aviator was conducting an approach to a remote, unpaved airstrip. The location of this 1,700-foot dirt strip is distinctive, situated directly between two active crawfish ponds. During the final phase of the landing sequence, the aircraft's right main landing gear made contact with an unexpected obstacle on the runway surface: a crawfish boat that had been driven onto the strip.

Following this unusual impact, the pilot, who possessed 13,767 hours of flight time, made the decision to continue the flight and return to his home base airfield rather than aborting or remaining at the remote site. During the subsequent touchdown at the destination, the structural integrity of the landing gear was compromised. The right main landing gear collapsed under the stress of the impact sustained earlier. This failure caused the airplane to nosed over violently.

The aircraft came to a final rest in an inverted position on the ground. There were no reports of injuries to the pilot during this sequence of events, though the aircraft sustained significant damage from the collapse and subsequent inversion.

Probable cause

Contact with a crawfish boat on the runway during approach, which led to landing gear failure upon touchdown at the home base.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20040401X00410. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.