N7955

On September 9, 2000, at 1030 eastern daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N7955, collided with terrain during an emergency descent to landing following a loss of engine power, in Dillon, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 137, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local agricultural flight. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Dillon County Airport, Dillon, South Carolina, at 0950.

According to the pilot he was spraying chemicals into a field when he heard a hissing sound and the engine lost power. The pilot made an emergency landing into a soft field and flipped inverted during the landing roll. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. Examination of the engine reveled that the number eight (8) cylinder had cracked. According to the pilot, the engine had accumulated 1,113 hours since its last major overhaul.