Grumman G164B accident near Wyndmere, North Dakota, July 16, 1993
On July 16, 1993 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Grumman G164B, registered N2008, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wyndmere, North Dakota (Thompson 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
the pilot's decision to land on unsuitable terrain. Factors in the accident are the wet and soft turf runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1993 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wyndmere, North Dakota · Thompson · 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
- N2008 · no longer on the register · serial 349B
- 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 RETURNED FROM AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A GRASS STRIP. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S STATEMENT, HE NEGLECTED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE CONDITION OF THE LANDING STRIP DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF RAIN WHICH HAD FALLEN IN THE AREA OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. WHILE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR BECAME MIRED IN THE MUD AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT DID HAVE THE OPTION OF LANDING ON AN ASPHALT RUNWAY, BUT STATES HE DECIDED TO LAND ON THE GRASS STRIP IN AN EFFORT TO TRY AND SAVE THE AIRPLANE'S TIRES.
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: 9,500 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model; 380 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 9,200 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,290 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1993; 360 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Thompson Aerial Service, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.