Grumman G-164 accident near Donalsonville, Georgia, June 21, 1992
On June 21, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N10273, was substantially damaged in an accident near Donalsonville, 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
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND HIS FAILURE TO DETECT WATER IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Donalsonville, Georgia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164 · all G-164s on the register
- Registration
- N10273 · no longer on the register · serial 73
- 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 AG PILOT HAD FINISHED SPRAYING CROPS AND WAS MANEUVERING OVER A LAKE. WHILE MANEUVERING, THE ENGINE QUIT. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT WITH INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO AVOID A LANDING IN SHALLOW WATER. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OCCURRED DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANKS REVEALED WATER CONTAMINATION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,025 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,542 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1992; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,523 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Donalsonville GA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from DHN, 33 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.
Other NTSB records under N10273 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.