Grumman G-164A accident near Cottonwood, Alabama, June 21, 1987
On June 21, 1987 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7687, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottonwood, Alabama (Lucky Field). 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
- June 21, 1987 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cottonwood, Alabama · Lucky Field · 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
- N7687 · no longer on the register · serial 1000
- 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 STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL FOR THE ACFT DURING THE PREFLT AND RUNUP. HE HAD JUST ABOUT COMPLETED HIS FIRST SWATH RUN WHEN HE REPTD THAT THE ENGINE SHOOK A LITTLE AND STARTED BACKFIRING. HE PULLED UP AND STARTED ACROSS A SWAMP TOWARD A PAVED ROAD THAT HE PLANNED TO USE FOR AN EMER STRIP. THE ENGINE CONTD TO LOSE PWR AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE AND TREES JUST SHORT OF THE ROAD. THE ENG WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED DURING THE IMPACT SEQUENCE. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE PLT WAS NOT INJURED.
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: 3,101 hours in all; 2,900 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 2,991 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,277 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1986; 340 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ashford Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: Ahsford AL at 12:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from DHN, 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.
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.