Grumman G-164A accident near Vona, Colorado, May 7, 1988
On May 7, 1988 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8518H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vona, Colorado (Private Strip 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
- May 7, 1988 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vona, Colorado · Private Strip · 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
- N8518H · no longer on the register · serial 1392
- 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 PILOT SAID THE WIND WAS CALM WHEN HE GOT IN THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE SAID THAT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT REACHED ABOUT 50 FEET AGL, AFTER TAKEOFF, HE ENCOUNTERED A TAILWIND. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. THE GROUND WAS SOFT AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT SAID THAT UPON EXITING THE AIRCRAFT, THE WIND WAS BLOWING ABOUT 15 KTS AND THERE WAS A TAILWIND FOR THE DIRECTION OF TAKEOFF.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,036 hours in all; 317 in this make and model; 317 in the last 90 days; 861 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,397 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1988; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,450 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.