Grumman G-164A accident near Berlin, North Dakota, September 6, 1984
On September 6, 1984 at about 9:46 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6887Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berlin, North Dakota. 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
- September 6, 1984 · about 9:46 pm local time
- Place
- Berlin, North Dakota · 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
- N6887Q · no longer on the register · serial 1726
- 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 ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A SOFT FIELD AND NOSED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND HE COULD NOT DUMP HIS LOAD BECAUSE THE DUMP HANDLE CAME OFF. THE PLT SAID 100 GALLONS OF LIQUID FERTILIZER WAS LOADED ON THE ACFT. THE PLT DID NOT FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT. THE ACFT WAS EXAMINED AND AUTOMOTIVE FUEL WAS FOUND IN IT EVEN THOUGHIT WAS NOT APPROVED FOR THIS TYPE OF FUEL. THE LOAD DUMP HANDLE INTERCONNECT WIRE WAS FOUND FRAYED WHICH PREVENTED OPERATION OF THE HANDLE. AN A&P MECHANIC FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES IN THE POWERPLANT. ONE PERSON WHO TALKED TO THE PLT AFTER THE ACCIDENT SAID IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE 'PLT GOT BEHIND THE ACFT.'
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: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 22 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from JMS
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 N6887Q 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.