Grumman G-164A accident near Dawson, Georgia, February 10, 1989
On February 10, 1989 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N9755, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dawson, Georgia. 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
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO LEAKING CARBURETOR FLOAT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN USED FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 1989 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dawson, Georgia
- 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
- N9755 · no longer on the register · serial 1250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT WAS COMPLETING THE SECOND AERIAL APPLICATION RUN OVER A WHEAT FIELD WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN POWER WERE ONLY MOMENTARILY SUCCESSFUL AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN THE WHEAT. ON ROLLOUT THE AIRCRAFT WENT INTO A PLOWED FIELD AND NOSED OVER. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE CARBURETOR FLOAT WAS LEAKING WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXCESSIVELY RICH MIXTURE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,867 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 10 in the last 30 days; 13,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,726 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1989; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.
Other NTSB records under N9755 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.