Grumman G-164A and Piper PA-25-260 mid-air collision near Lamar, Colorado, April 8, 1987
On April 8, 1987 at about 9:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Grumman G-164A (N8369) and Piper PA-25-260 (N4941Y), were involved in a mid-air collision near Lamar, Colorado. 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- April 8, 1987 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lamar, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N8369 · registry record · serial 864
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-25-260 · all PA-25-260s on the register
- Registration
- N4941Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-4742
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Grumman G-164A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT HAD COMPLETED A FORMATION AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION AND WERE IN THE PROCESS OF SINGLE AIRPLANE SPRAYING AROUND THE PERIMETERS OF A FIELD. THEY COLLIDED AT 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND ON PERPENDICULAR FLIGHT PATHS, DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL AND IMPACTED IN THE LEVEL FIELD.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-25-260 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT HAD COMPLETED A FORMATION AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION AND WERE IN THE PROCESS OF SINGLE AIRPLANE SPRAYING AROUND THE PERIMETERS OF A FIELD. THEY COLLIDED AT 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND ON PERPENDICULAR FLIGHT PATHS, DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL AND IMPACTED IN THE LEVEL FIELD.
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 for the Grumman G-164A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,620 hours in all; 5,140 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,214 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1984; 528 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lamar CO at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:33 pm from LHX, 52 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-25-260 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,583 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-G1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lamar CO at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.