Grumman G-164A accident near Loxley, Alabama, May 22, 1989
On May 22, 1989 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8881H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Loxley, 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 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1989 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Loxley, Alabama · 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
- N8881H · no longer on the register · serial 1559
- 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 AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE FOLLOWING A PULL-UP MANEUVER AT THE END OF A FIELD THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING. THE PILOT INITIALLY STATED THAT HE JUST GOT BEHIND THE POWER CURVE AND SETTLED IN WITH NO POWER PROBLEMS. HE LATER REPORTED THAT 'THE ENGINE SPUTTERED', AND IT WAS AS IF HE WAS NOT GETTING FULL POWER. THE PILOT DESCRIBED OPERATING CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH CARBURETOR ICE FORMATION. THE DEW POINT WAS NOT RECORDED.
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
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,415 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1988; 327 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R 1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Summerdale AL at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 4 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°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 N8881H 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.