Grumman 164A accident near Abbeville, Alabama, June 25, 1992
On June 25, 1992 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Grumman 164A, registered N5093, was destroyed in an accident near Abbeville, Alabama. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE TOP UTILITY WIRE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 1992 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Abbeville, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman 164A
- Registration
- N5093 · no longer on the register · serial 1137
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY WIRE WHILE ENGAGED IN AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING OPERATION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED THE SECOND SWATH RUN ON THE 26 ACRE FIELD AND WAS ON CLIMBOUT WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE TOP WIRE BUT HE HAD ESTABLISHED VISUAL CONTACT WITH A LOWER WIRE. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE WERE REPORTED.
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
- Flight time: 3,600 hours in all; 2,300 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 3,530 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: B & H Flying Service INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from DHN, 25 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.