Grumman G-164A accident near Deming, New Mexico, June 22, 1985
On June 22, 1985 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N5337, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deming, New Mexico. 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
- June 22, 1985 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Deming, New Mexico · 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
- N5337 · registry record · serial 628
- 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 PLT TOLD FAA HE WAS SPRAYING A COTTON FIELD AND WAS TURNING AROUND FROM A SWATH RUN WHEN THE PROPELLER FEATHERED. THE PLT TOLD NTSB THAT THE ACFT 'PITCHED UPWARD AND LOST POWER.' ACFT TYPE CERTIFICATE SHOWS THAT A HAMILTON STANDARD PROPELLER M/N 2D30/6101A-12-13-14 IS INSTALLED. PROPELLER REMOVED FROM ACFT WAS A HARTZELL M/N HCB3W30-2B, AN UNAPPROVED INSTALLATION. PROP DISASSEMBLY REVEALED A SPACER HAD BEEN PLACED IN RING ASSEMBLY, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR PROP TO FEATHER. BLADE CLAMPS INSIDE PROP HUB WEE BROKEN. NO. 1 BLADE WAS IN FEATHERED POSITION, NO. 2 BLADE WAS NEAR FEATHER, AND NO. 3 BLADE WAS PAST FEATHER. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN OIL LOSS OR PROP GOVERNOR FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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
- Flight time: 1,474 hours in all; 1,474 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 1,390 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,102 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 18, 1985; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Deming NM at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from DMN, 8 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.