Grumman G-164 accident near Browning, Illinois, July 17, 2002
On July 17, 2002 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N623U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Browning, Illinois (Schuy-Rush 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
the failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering. The initial stages of a stall/mush condition, and the low maneuvering altitude due to the agricultural application pass, were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2002 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Browning, Illinois · Schuy-Rush · map
- 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
- N623U · no longer on the register · serial 359
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On July 17, 2002, at 1245 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164, N623U, piloted by commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it gradually descended into and impacted a field after making an agricultural application pass near Browning, Illinois. The airplane had departed Schuy-Rush Airport (5K4), Rushville, Illinois, for the local flight at 1230. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was operating under provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 at the time of the accident. The pilot was not injured.
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: 4,934 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 17, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,553 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 2002; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5K4 Rushville IL at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 5K4 Rushville IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,565 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from UIN, 39 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.