What happened
On June 25, 2024, at approximately 13:39 mountain daylight time, a Grumman G-164A aircraft, registration N9709, was destroyed following an accident near Chamberino, New Mexico. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.
The pilot had recently obtained a tailwheel endorsement and was performing his first flight in this specific make and model. Per instructions from the chief pilot, the pilot departed Dona Ana County International Jetport Airport (DNA) at approximately 13:30 to perform practice maneuvers, including climbs, descents, and turns, before returning to the airport.
During the flight, the pilot and the chief pilot were unable to communicate via radio and instead used text messages. During the flight, the pilot sent a text message stating the airplane was shaking slightly. The chief pilot responded that the vibration was normal due to the engine's horsepower. Shortly after, the chief pilot sent a follow-up inquiry asking if the pilot was okay, but received no response. The chief pilot then observed a plume of smoke in the vicinity of the aircraft's operating area. Upon flying toward the smoke, the chief pilot located the wreckage.
The investigation
Examination of the accident site showed the aircraft impacted sand-covered terrain and came to rest on a heading of approximately 020° magnetic. There were no visible ground scars at the site. The empennage showed thermal damage, though most of the primary structure remained. The fuselage, cockpit, and the inboard sections of both the upper and lower wings were largely consumed by fire, while the outboard portions of the wings remained intact. The left lower wingtip was found approximately 50 feet west of the main wreckage. All major structural components were recovered from the site for further examination.