Grumman G-164A accident near North Platte, Nebraska, May 20, 2003
On May 20, 2003 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7855, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Platte, Nebraska (North Platte Regional Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 failure to maintain directional control and the collapse of the main landing gear. A factor to the accident was the quartering tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2003 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- North Platte, Nebraska · North Platte Regional Field · 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
- N7855 · registry record · serial 803
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when it ground looped during landing. According to the pilot, at his last point of departure the airplane experienced a "severe pulling" to the right during landing. The pilot stated that he had a mechanic check the brakes and that the mechanic found no discrepencies. The pilot subsequently continued with his flight. According to the pilot, while on landing roll the airplane pulled sharply to the right again. The pilot said that he was unable to correct and the airplane subsequently ran off the runway and ground looped. During the accident sequence, the main landing gear collapsed. An examination of the brake system and tail wheel assembly revealed no anomalies or malfunctions. The winds were 6 knots and 120 degrees right of runway heading.
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: 1,031 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 204 in the last 90 days; 143 in the last 30 days; 970 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2003; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 07K Central City NE at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Unknown
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,436 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.38 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from LBF
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.