Grumman G164A-450 accident near Clyde, Texas, January 8, 1983
On January 8, 1983 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Grumman G164A-450, registered N7843, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clyde, Texas (Elmdale 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 1983 · about 11:30 pm local time · cases in 1983
- Place
- Clyde, Texas · Elmdale · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164A-450 · all G164A-450s on the register
- Registration
- N7843 · registry record · serial 790
- 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 ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWERLINE AND CRASHED DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS PULLING OUT FROM A SWATH RUN WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OUT,BACKFIRED AND STARTED RUNNING AGAIN. THE PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO ELMDALE, ON THE WAY THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN. DURING THE FORCED LANDING SUNGLARE IMPAIRED THE PILOT'S VISIONAND THE ACFT TAILWHEEL, SNAGGED A POWERLINE. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED AND AN ENGINE FIRE DEVELOPED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED AND AT 1500 RPM WHEN CARBURETOR HEAT WAS APPLIED THE RPM INCREASED 100 RPM. WATER IN THE FUEL COULD NOT BE CONFIRMED BECAUSE THE ACFT HAD BEEN INVERTED. THE REASON FOR ENGINE FAILURE COULD NOT BE 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,197 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 5,197 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,714 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 24, 1982; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 6F4 Elmdale Airpark TX
- Destination: 6F4 Elmdale Airpark TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°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 N7843 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7843 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Grumman G-164 119 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Grumman 443 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W R985 1,593 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,985 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N7843 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW83LA107.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.