Grumman G-164B accident near Sheldon, Illinois, July 15, 2007
On July 15, 2007 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N8449K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sheldon, Illinois. 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain a proper rate of climb during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's failure to dump the chemical load and the ditch which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2007 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sheldon, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8449K · registry record · serial 699B
- 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 airplane collided with terrain following a loss of control on takeoff. The pilot reported that he was taking off with a full load of fuel and chemicals when the accident occurred. He stated that the airplane lifted off and climbed to an altitude of about 500 feet when it began to settle to the ground. The airplane landed in a bean field and contacted a ditch. The pilot stated that he did not have time to dump the chemical load prior to impacting the ground. The takeoff was being made on a 2,000 foot long, grass airstrip.
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: 1,011 hours in all; 704 in this make and model; 308 in the last 90 days; 154 in the last 30 days; 940 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett RP331-1 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Sheldon IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 3:05 pm from IKK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI07CA214.