Grumman G164B accident near Minto, North Dakota, August 17, 1991
On August 17, 1991 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Grumman G164B, registered N8351K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minto, North Dakota. 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
INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT SERVICING, INADEQUATE AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT, FUEL CONTAMINATION, AND UNSUITABLE SOFT TERRAIN IN WHICH TO EFFECT AN EMERGENCY LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1991 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Minto, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164B · all G164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8351K · registry record · serial 658B
- 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 HAD JUST COMPLETED A SWATH RUN DURING THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AGL. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN SOFT, CULTIVATED FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AFTER 220 FEET OF LANDING ROLL. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM. THE OPERATOR'S UNDERGROUND FUEL STORAGE FACILITY WAS INSPECTED, AND CONTAINED EIGHT INCHES OF WATER.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 5,541 hours in all; 559 in this make and model; 251 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 5,449 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,542 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 1991; 269 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985 14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gaudry AG Service, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.