Grumman G-164B accident near Schoolcraft, Michigan, August 18, 1988
On August 18, 1988, a Grumman G-164B, registered N48417, was substantially damaged in an accident near Schoolcraft, Michigan. 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 PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE MANEUVERING THE AIRCRAFT TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING IMPACTED A CORN CROP AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED/GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT AND SKIDDED TO A STOP, NOSE DOWN. THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE DUE TO A MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY WITH THE SPRAYING EQUIPMENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1988
- Place
- Schoolcraft, Michigan · 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
- N48417 · no longer on the register · serial 26B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS, A HOSE BETWEEN THE CHEMICAL PUMP AND SPRAY BOOM DISCONNECTED ALLOWING THE CHEMICAL PESTICIDE TO DUMP OVERBOARD. THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND AND ATTEMPT REPAIRS RATHER THAN FLY (DUMPING PESTICIDE) OVER POPULATED AREAS ON HIS WAY HOME. HE LANDED ON A DIRT ACCESS ROAD LOCATED IN THE FIELD HE WAS SPRAYING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL HE SWERVED TO AVOID A MOUND OF HIGH GRASS AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE CORN ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED FURTHER RIGHT AND SKIDDED TO A STOP, NOSE DOWN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,045 hours in all; 64 in this make and model; 284 in the last 90 days; 123 in the last 30 days; 8,890 as pilot in command; 122 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,566 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1988; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Decatur MI at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°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.
Other NTSB records under N48417 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.