Probable cause
Fracture of the engine's number eight cylinder barrel resulting in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
NTSB analysis
About one hour after takeoff the agricultural airplane's engine lost partial power. Unable to maintain level flight, the pilot elected to land in a corn field. During landing the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. Moments later the airplane was engulfed in a postcrash fire. An examination of the engine revealed that the partial loss of engine power was due to a fracture in the number eight cylinder barrel, below the spark plug holes.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for DFW08LA178 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 3, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Stotesbury, Missouri
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Grumman G-164
- N-number
- N520Y
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Operating rule
- Part 137 (agricultural)
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial application
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.