On June 23, 2004, a Grumman G-164A (registration N5339) was involved in an aviation accident near Hutchinson, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the low altitude turn after takeoff. A factor to the accident was the low altitude and the swampy terrain condition. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During initial climb, the pilot turned from northwest to east, then south to avoid obstacles, resulting in the airplane descending into swampy terrain. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.
Accident Overview
An airplane impacted swampy terrain while maneuvering during initial climb. The pilot reported that after takeoff, while on initial climb out of ground effect, he decided to turn from a northwest heading to the east. The pilot stated he saw obstacles ahead of the airplane while on an easterly heading, so he decided to continue the turn to the south to avoid them. The pilot reported that during the turn the airplane descended into the swamp.
Pilot Statement
The pilot did not report experiencing any malfunctions or failures with the airframe or its engine. The pilot stated the accident could have been prevented by "more airspeed over wings."
Conclusion
The accident sequence involved a turn during initial climb in response to perceived obstacles, leading to a descent into swampy terrain. No mechanical issues were noted.