Grumman G-164A accident near Americus, Georgia, September 14, 1990
On September 14, 1990 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7905, was destroyed in an accident near Americus, Georgia (Fraizer Airstrip airport). 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
A LOW CYCLE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SPRING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1990 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Americus, Georgia · Fraizer Airstrip · 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
- N7905 · no longer on the register · serial 811
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED AT TOUCHDOWN. EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED COMPONENT DISCLOSED A LOW CYCLE FATIGUE FAILURE MODE WITH NO CLEAR POINT OF ORIGIN. IN 1974, SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP ISSUED A SERVICE NOTE WHICH DEFINED THE FAILURE CONDITIONS, AND THE INSPECTION PROCEDURES. THE FRACTURE ANALYSIS IDENTIFIED CLASSICAL FAILURE PROPERTIES OUTLINED IN THE SERVICE NOTE. THE PILOT RECORDED APPROXIMATELY 200 LANDINGS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION.
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: 3,494 hours in all; 677 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 3,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,725 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:30 pm from CSG, 45 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.