Grumman 164A accident near Elkhorn, Wisconsin, August 31, 1992
On August 31, 1992 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Grumman 164A, registered N48635, was destroyed in an accident near Elkhorn, Wisconsin. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1992 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Elkhorn, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman 164A
- Registration
- N48635 · registry record · serial 1684
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A COLLISION WITH TREES AND THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO A LOCAL DAIRY OPERATION, HE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO INITIATE THE SWATH RUN WITH A CROSSWIND TO DOWNWIND (TAILWIND) TURN TOWARD A HILLSIDE WITH TREES. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE SUSPECTED THAT THE INCREASED GROUND SPEED AND DOWNSLOPE AIRFLOW CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 1,998 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 93 in the last 30 days; 1,830 as pilot in command; 484 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,709 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1992; 111 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: AG Aviation Services, INC.
The flight
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°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 N48635 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.