Grumman G-164 accident near Opp, Alabama, September 5, 1985
On September 5, 1985 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N598Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Opp, Alabama. 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 5, 1985 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Opp, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164 · all G-164s on the register
- Registration
- N598Y · no longer on the register · serial 259
- 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 DURING A PULL-UP AND TURNAROUND AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN, THE ENG GAVE OFF SMOKE AND LOST PWR. THE PLT DUMPED THE CHEMICAL LOAD AND PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A FLD WHICH CONTAINED 6 TO 8 FT TALL VEGETATION. THE ACFT TRAVELLED APRX 100 FT THEN NOSED OVER. INSPECTION OF THE ENG REVEALED THE IMPELLER BEARING FAILED, ALLOWING THE IMPELLER TO CONTACT THE REAR CASING.
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: 4,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 3,940 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,235 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 1985; 133 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0J7 Samson AL at 3:30 pm
- Destination: OJ7 Samson AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.