Grumman G164A accident near Chenoa, Illinois, August 3, 1988
On August 3, 1988 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Grumman G164A, registered N8980H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chenoa, 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
UNAVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO ACCOMPLISH A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1988 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chenoa, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164A · all G164As on the register
- Registration
- N8980H · registry record · serial 1603
- 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 PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, THE ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER AND IT WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE MOVEMENT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON SOFT TERRAIN AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING THE POST ACCIDENT EXAM WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE POWER LOSS.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,745 hours in all; 225 in this make and model; 305 in the last 90 days; 225 in the last 30 days; 5,387 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,398 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 1988; 225 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIX Chenoa IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from MDW, 85 miles away
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.