Grumman G164 accident near Brule, Nebraska, July 29, 1993
On July 29, 1993 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Grumman G164, registered N8368, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brule, Nebraska. 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 UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT INCLUDE TOTAL FAILURE OF AN ENGINE CYLINDER, AND A HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1993 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brule, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164 · all G164s on the register
- Registration
- N8368 · no longer on the register · serial 863
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FIRST PASS OF AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE STARTED TO BACKFIRE AND LOSE POWER. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD ADJACENT TO THE CORN FIELD HE WAS SPRAYING. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET TO THE END OF THE OPEN FIELD AS THE PILOT UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO TURN THE AIRPLANE BEFORE CROSSING A DIRT ROAD AND ENTERING A CORN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING HIT A POST HIDDEN BY TALL WEEDS AND GRASS AT THE END OF THE OPEN FIELD, SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FOUND ONE CYLINDER CRACKED FROM SPARKPLUG HOLE TO SPARKPLUG HOLE, WITH THE TOP OF THE CYLINDER SEPARATING COMPLETELY. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCITON WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ACCESSORIES WAS FOUND.
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
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 98 in the last 90 days; 3,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,620 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1993; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:48 pm from SNY, 400 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.