Ponca City - Houston

On approach to Houston-William P. Hobby Airport, a low oil pressure in the right engine gearbox forced the crew to shut down the engine and to feather its propeller. For unknown reason, the propeller was not properly feathered and the airplane was approaching too low and too fast. After touchdown, as the airplane already rolled half of the landing distance (7,600 feet), the captain decided to initiate a go-around. After liftoff, fire was observed coming out from the tail exhaust pipe while the left engine lost power. The crew attempted an emergency landing and completed a belly landing in an open field near the airport. All 20 occupants were rescued, among them a passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was written off.

Flight / Schedule

Ponca City - Houston

Registration

N91G

MSN

37

Year of Manufacture

1960

Operator

Conoco

Date

September 24, 1978 at 02:47 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Houston-William P. Hobby Texas

Region

North America • United States of America

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On September 24, 1978 at 02:47 PM, Ponca City - Houston experienced a crash involving Grumman G-159 Gulfstream I, operated by Conoco, with the event recorded near Houston-William P. Hobby Texas.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

20 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 20 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 18, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. On approach to Houston-William P. Hobby Airport, a low oil pressure in the right engine gearbox forced the crew to shut down the engine and to feather its propeller. For unknown reason, the propeller was not properly feathered and the airplane was approaching too low and too fast. After touchdown, as the airplane already rolled half of the landing distance (7,600 feet), the captain decided to initiate a go-around. After liftoff, fire was observed coming out from the tail exhaust pipe while the left engine lost power. The crew attempted an emergency landing and completed a belly landing in an open field near the airport. All 20 occupants were rescued, among them a passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was written off.

Aircraft reference details include registration N91G, MSN 37, year of manufacture 1960.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

On approach to Houston-William P. Hobby Airport, a low oil pressure in the right engine gearbox forced the crew to shut down the engine and to feather its propeller. For unknown reason, the propeller was not properly feathered and the airplane was approaching too low and too fast. After touchdown, as the airplane already rolled half of the landing distance (7,600 feet), the captain decided to initiate a go-around. After liftoff, fire was observed coming out from the tail exhaust pipe while the left engine lost power. The crew attempted an emergency landing and completed a belly landing in an open field near the airport. All 20 occupants were rescued, among them a passenger was seriously injured. The aircraft was written off.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

18

Estimated Survivors

20

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 20

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Ponca City - Houston

Operator

Conoco

Flight Type

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

North America • United States of America

Aircraft Details

Registration

N91G

MSN

37

Year of Manufacture

1960

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