Grumman-Schweizer G-164B accident near Joes, Colorado, July 4, 2007
On July 4, 2007 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, registered N8459K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Joes, Colorado. 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's improper takeoff planning and subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff. Contributing factors were the high density altitude and tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2007 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Joes, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N8459K · no longer on the register · serial 701B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to the aerial application flight, the airplane was refueled to a maximum of 114 gallons and the hopper was filled with 250 gallons (335 gallons maximum) of chemical. The pilot departed to the south on the 1/2 mile private dirt airstrip. During the initial takeoff climb, the airplane impacted corn stalks located at the end of the airstrip. Subsequently, the airplane cart-wheeled and came to rest in the field. The operator reported the temperature was approximately 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the winds were at "few knots from the northeast." The calculated density altitude was 6,620 feet mean sea level (msl).
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: 12,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Joes CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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 N8459K 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.