Grumman G-164A accident near Clinton, Kentucky, August 31, 1983
On August 31, 1983 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N5256, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clinton, Kentucky. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1983 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Clinton, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N5256 · no longer on the register · serial 540
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS SPRAYING A FIELD THAT WAS BORDERED BY OBSTACLES. WHEN HE WAS ABOUT HALF WAY THRU A PROCEDURE TURN, THE ENG BEGAN 'BACKFIRING & LOSING POWER.' THE PLT MOVED THE THROTTLE TO ABOUT THE 1/2 POWER SETTING, HOPING THE CONDITION WOULD BE CORRECTED, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THERE WAS A HIGH POWER LINE ON ONE SIDE OF THE FIELD & A 300 FT TRANSMITTING TOWER ON THE OTHER. ALSO, THERE WAS A WOODED AREA AT THE END OF THE FIELD. THEREFORE, THE PLT ELECTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SMALL, ROLLING FIELD. DURING THE LANDING, THE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE WINGS WERE DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE FRONT SPARK PLUGS WERE SOOTY; THE REAR SPARK PLUGS WERE RUSTED & COULD NOT BE REMOVED; THE #2, #4 & #8 CYLINDERS HAD BLOWN EXHAUST GASKETS; THE LEFT MAGNETO TIMING BUSHING WAS WORN EXCESSIVELY & THE MAGNETO WAS FOUND TO BE LOOSE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,812 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 4,762 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Clinton KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.