Grumman G-164B accident near Berry, Alabama, September 14, 1983
On September 14, 1983 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N48475, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berry, Alabama (New Lexington airport). 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
- September 14, 1983 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Berry, Alabama · New Lexington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N48475 · no longer on the register · serial 33B
- 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 ACFT DRAGGED A WING DURING TAKEOFF AND COLLAPSED THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR IN THE PROCESS. AFTER LIFTOFF THE PLT SAID THE LEFT WING DIPPED AND CONTACTED SOYBEANS AT THE END OF THE RWY. HE SAID HE OVERCONTROLLED AND ROLLED THE RIGHT WING INTO THE BEANS. HE REPORTED THAT THE 180 GALLONS OF INSECTICIDE WAS DUMPED BUT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR HIT A TERRACE AND FOLDED, DAMAGING THE WING. HE HAD ESTIMATED THE WIND TO BE LIGHT AND FROM 030 DEGREES. THE RECORDED WINDS ABOUT 25 MINUTES LATERAND 20 MILES SOUTH WERE FROM 350 DEGREES AT 10 KTS. THE REPORTED TAKEOFF HEADING WAS SE ABOUT 170 DEGREES.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 14,000 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 14,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT New Lexington AL at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from TCL, 20 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N48475 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.