Grumman G-164A accident near Anahuac, Texas, April 25, 1983
On April 25, 1983 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N4564, was destroyed in an accident near Anahuac, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 25, 1983 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Anahuac, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N4564 · no longer on the register · serial 1059
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT GROUNDLOOPED IN RUTS DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT. A GROUND FIRE DESTROYED THE ACFT. THE ACFT HAD APPROACHED THE FIELD TO BE SPRAYED AND A WITNESS ON THE GROUND SAID THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS BEING THROTTLED BACK. WHEN THE PILOT TRIED TO ADD POWER THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS IT FAILED COMPLETELY. THE PILOT DUMPED THE SPRAY LOAD, TURNED AND LANDED IN A RICE FIELD. THE ACFT HIT RUTS AND GROUNDLOOPED. A POSTCRASH FIRE DESTROYED THE ACFT. THE POSTCRASH INVESTIGATION REVEALED A MALFUNCTION IN THE IMPELLER AND SHAFT ASSEMBLY ALLOWING THE IMPELLER TO DRAG AGAINST ITS HOUSING. AN A&P MECHANIC SAID THIS FAILED THE ENGINE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,133 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Anahuac TX at 1:29 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.