Grumman G-164A accident near Wiggins, Colorado, May 18, 1984
On May 18, 1984 at about 12:40 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N9822, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wiggins, Colorado. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1984 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Wiggins, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N9822 · no longer on the register · serial 1282
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EN ROUTE TO A FIELD FOR AERIAL APPLICATION, AN OIL MIST APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD OF THE ACFT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ENG PROGRESSIVELY LOST POWER & THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A PASTURE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT HIT A HOLE IN THE GROUND & NOSED OVER. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE EXHAUST ROCKER BOX ON THE #1 CYLINDER HAD CRACKED & SEPARATED WHERE THE OIL LINES WERE ATTACHED. THERE WERE 2 PRATT & WHITNEY SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING R-1340-AN1 CYLINDERS THAT WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH. SB-1720 RECOMMENDED AN INSPECTION OF THE CYLINDER HEADS DURING OVERHAUL. SB-1743 CALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL CYLINDERS WITH IMPROVED CYLINDERS HAVING A 5/8 INCH REENFORCEMENT WEB ON THE EXHAUST ROCKER BOX. THE OLD CYLINDERS HAD 1/2 INCH WEB. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 360 HRS SINCE THE LAST MAJOR OVERHAUL.
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
- Flight time: 11,700 hours in all; 3,900 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,900 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 15, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:40 am
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 N9822 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.