Grumman G-164-A accident near La Moure, North Dakota, May 26, 1994
On May 26, 1994 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164-A, registered N5277, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Moure, North Dakota (La Moure Rott Muni 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
failure of the pilot to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1994 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- La Moure, North Dakota · La Moure Rott Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164-A · all G-164-As on the register
- Registration
- N5277 · no longer on the register · serial 566
- 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 MADE A WHEEL LANDING, AND HELD THE TAILWHEEL OFF OF THE RUNWAY AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. WHEN THE TAILWHEEL CONTACTED THE RUNWAY THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND GROUND-LOOPED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED NO CONTROL OR TAILWHEEL DISCREPANCIES.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,803 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1994; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,725 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Robert'S Aerial Service, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,750 ft by 43 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:48 pm from JMS, 39 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.
Other NTSB records under N5277 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.