Grumman G-164B accident near Abbeyville, Alabama, October 31, 1996
On October 31, 1996 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N6756K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Abbeyville, 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 for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 1996 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Abbeyville, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6756K · no longer on the register
- 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 pilot was on the turnaround of the fourth swath run when he experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot selected a forced landing area, he dumped the load, and established an approach to the field. As the pilot continued the approach, he realized that he could not make the field, therefore he decided to land the airplane in the tops of trees. He slowed the airplane to five miles per hour above the stall speed and settled into the trees. The subsequent examination of the engine assembly failed to disclose a mechanical problem, however, the review of engine maintenance information disclosed that the engine had been in service for 2033 hours since the last overhaul. The recommended time between overhauls is 1200 hours; this is not a mandatory requirement. A review of weather data disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,482 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1996; 178 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,100 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Shorterville AL at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from DHN
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.