Grumman G-164A accident near Bucyrus, Ohio, July 9, 1987
On July 9, 1987 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7845, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bucyrus, Ohio. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 9, 1987 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bucyrus, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N7845 · registry record · serial 3826
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PLT WAS APCHG A FIELD TO SPREAD FERTILIZER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE & CRASHED TO THE GROUND. THE PLT RECEIVED A HEAD INJURY & SAID HE COULD NOT RECALL THE ACDNT. ACCORDING TO HOSPITAL RECORDS, HE WAS SUFFERING FROM PNEUMONIA & HAD A 101 DEG TEMP WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED. A WITNESS SAID THE ENG WAS RUNNING N0RMALLY PRIOR TO THE ACDNT.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 12,825 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,839 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 1986; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Heck Flying Service,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 17G Bucyrus OH at 3:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CLE, 70 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.
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.