Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Biggs, California 95917
Sunday, June 9, 1985 10:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE LOADING THE ACFT WITH SPRAY MIX HE LOOKED AT HIS FUEL QUANTITY GAGE AND BELIEVED HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL FOR ONE MORE AERIAL APPLICATION FLT. THE PLT CONTINUED TO STATE THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF THE ENGINE QUIT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN A WHEAT FLD. 360 FT AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT HIT A DRAINAGE DITCH AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE PLT STATED ON HIS REPORT TO THE NTSB THAT HE BELIEVED THE FUEL GAGE HAD STUCK, GIVING HIM A FALSE INDICATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/9/1985
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BIGGS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95917
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1010
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 859
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 11 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 810
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28086
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N363Y
NTSB Number LAX85LA270
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN
Aircraft Model G-164
Aircraft Series Identifier G-164
Aircraft Serial Number 209
Certified Max Gross Weight 3725
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 11 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES R. MORRIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9595 Q ST.
Aircraft Owner City LIVE OAK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95953
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RLA
Departure City BIGGS
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 959
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --