Grumman 164A accident near Becker, Minnesota, September 18, 1985
On September 18, 1985 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Grumman 164A, registered N48405, was substantially damaged in an accident near Becker, Minnesota. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1985 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Becker, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman 164A
- Registration
- N48405 · registry record · serial 1632
- 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 PLT REPORTED THE ENG PWR DROPPED FROM 2000 TO 1550 RPM DURING THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLT. THE PLT INCREASED THROTTLEAND ADVANCED THE PROP WITH NO INCREASE IN PWR. THE ACFT THEN SETTLED TO GROUND IMPACT AND NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION DISCLOSED ONE OF THE PROP BLADE COUNTER WEIGHTS HAD FAILED ALLOWING ONE PROP BLADE TO TRAVEL TO A HIGH PITCH (LOW RPM) SETTING WHILE THE OTHER REMAINED IN A LOW PITCH (HIGH RPM) SETTING.
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; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,588 hours in all; 1,754 in this make and model; 270 in the last 90 days; 2,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,195 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 1985; 339 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Becker MN at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.