Grumman G-164A accident near Deming, New Mexico, August 1, 1990
On August 1, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N668U, 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL DUE TO THE CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE POOR MAINTENANCE OF THE RUNWAY SURFACE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Deming, New Mexico
- 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
- N668U · no longer on the register · serial 408
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL AT A PRIVATE AIR STRIP USED BY THE AGRICULTURAL APPLICATOR THE AIRCRAFT MAIN LANDING GEAR HIT A SOFT SPOT IN THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER. THERE WAS NO SPILLAGE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.
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: 3,214 hours in all; 2,764 in this make and model; 540 in the last 90 days; 180 in the last 30 days; 3,184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,255 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1990; 110 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 5,280 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.