Grumman G164 N3631Z accident near Hays, Kansas

Probable cause

The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was performing an agricultural application flight, and the airplane was observed departing a private airstrip to the east toward a field west of the airstrip. The airplane impacted terrain in a steep, nose-down attitude. A postimpact fire ensued. There were no witnesses to the accident.

Impact signatures and twisting of the wreckage were indicative of a nose-low spin, consistent with an aerodynamic stall . Flight control continuity could not be verified due to fire damage, but no anomalies were noted with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's toxicology tests results showed no drug or alcohol use. Thus, it is likely that aerodynamic stall resulted from the pilot allowing the airplane to exceed its critical angle of attack during a turn.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN19FA278 for the full record.