Schweizer G164A accident near Grandin, North Dakota, July 24, 1986
On July 24, 1986 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Schweizer G164A, registered N8379, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grandin, North Dakota (Dakota 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
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
- July 24, 1986 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grandin, North Dakota · Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer G164A
- Registration
- N8379 · registry record · serial 872
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM 2600 FT X 50 FT SOD STRIP WITH FULL FUEL (36 GAL) AND 160 GAL OF M22, A FUNGICIDE. CENTER OF RWY WAS SOFT FROM RECENT RAINS. PLT BEGAN TAKEOFF ROLL ON RIGHT SIDE OF RWY. RIGHT WING AND SPRAY BOOM CONTACTED TALL GRAIN STALKS ALONG SIDE OF RWY AND ACFT SPUN AROUND AND SKIDDED SIDEWAYS. LEFT WING TIP DUG INTO GROUND AND ACFT CARTWHEELED.
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: 1,849 hours in all; 807 in this make and model; 294 in the last 90 days; 1,753 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,802 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, December 16, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from FAR, 21 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 N8379 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.