Grumman G-164A accident near Edgeley, North Dakota, June 28, 1990
On June 28, 1990 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6887Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edgeley, North Dakota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A MOMENTARY POWER INTERRUPTION DURING INITIAL CLIMB FOR UNKNOWN REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 1990 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Edgeley, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N6887Q · no longer on the register · serial 1726
- 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 COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS ON TAKEOFF FROM A FIELD STRIP, FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A PARTIAL POWER LOSS, MOMENTARILY, DURING INITIAL CLIMB. THE PLANE STRUCK A CROSS FENCE, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ENTERED STANDING VEGETATION, AND TRAVELED FOR 900 FEET. THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE CAME BACK TO FULL POWER, BUT THE PLANE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB CLEAR OF THE VEGETATION. THE PILOT SAID HE REDUCED POWER TO LAND, BUT THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. ALL FOUR WING SPARS WERE DAMAGED AND THE FUSELAGE WAS TWISTED. 200 GALLONS OF PENNCAP-M CHEMICAL MIXTURE POURED OVER THE PILOT, WHO WAS PINNED UNDER THE WRECKAGE. THE INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTED ENGINE POWER INTERRUPTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,368 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 101 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 3,236 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,740 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°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.
Other NTSB records under N6887Q 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.