Grumman G-164A accident near Sharon Springs, Kansas, July 19, 1991
On July 19, 1991 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7964, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sharon Springs, Kansas (Bussen airport). 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
AIRCRAFT TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE EXCEEDED AND DISREGARD OF PERFORMANCE DATA BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT IS HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1991 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sharon Springs, Kansas · Bussen · 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
- N7964 · no longer on the register · serial 841
- 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 OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OR MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AFTER DEPARTING A 2500 FOOT LONG DIRT LANDING STRIP WITH A LOAD OF AGRICULTURE CHEMICALS. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A PLOWED FIELD AND NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE TEMPERATURE AT THE 3500 FOOT MSL DEPARTURE AIRSTRIP WAS 85 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE.
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: 1,008 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 954 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 15, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.
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.