Grumman G-164C accident near Tiller, Arkansas, July 16, 2004
On July 16, 2004 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Grumman G-164C, registered N6555K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tiller, Arkansas (Flying G Ranch 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 pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane while landing due to a brake system failure.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2004 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Tiller, Arkansas · Flying G Ranch Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164C · all G-164Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6555K · registry record · serial 4C
- 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 17,174-hour pilot, stated that after landing on a 3,750 feet long and 150 feet wide concrete and turf runway, the right main landing gear braking system "gave way," and he was not able to maintain control of the airplane. The airplane airplane veered off the left side of the runway into a ditch. The reason for the brake failure was not determined.
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: 17,174 hours in all; 411 in this make and model; 600 in the last 90 days; 175 in the last 30 days; 17,174 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 11, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,634.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2004; 233 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tiller AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,750 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from LLQ, 19 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.
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.