Grumman G-164A accident near Cape Girardeau, Illinois, July 18, 1988
On July 18, 1988 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N677U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cape Girardeau, Illinois. 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
- July 18, 1988 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cape Girardeau, Illinois · 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
- N677U · no longer on the register · serial 419
- 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 WAS APPLYING CHEMICALS TO A FIELD WITH 3 RADIO TRANSMISSION TOWERS ALONG ONE SIDE. HE RPRTD THAT AS HE WAS FINISHING THE FIELD, HE CIRCLED ONE OF THE TOWERS, THEM MADE A FINAL SWATH RUN ACROSS THE END OF THE FIELD. HE STATED THAT AS HE PULLED UP FROM THE SWATH RUN, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURBULENCE FROM THE 360 DEG TURN THAT HE HAD JUST MADE AROUND THE TOWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT BANKED TO THE RIGHT & COLLIDED WITH TWO OF THE UPPER GUY WIRES, DAMAGING THE RIGHT WING TIPS & PROP. THE WIRE STRIKE DAMAGED THE AILERON SYSTEM, SO THE PLT MADE A POWER OFF FORCED LANDING IN A CORNFIELD, WHERE THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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: 12,506 hours in all; 11,500 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 12,484 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1988; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Sikeston MO at 9:45 pm
- Destination: CGI Cape Girardeau IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.