Grumman G-164A accident near Weslaco, Texas, April 30, 1983
On April 30, 1983 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8863H, was destroyed in an accident near Weslaco, 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 30, 1983 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Weslaco, 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
- N8863H · no longer on the register · serial 1551
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, AS HE WAS LINING UP FOR HIS 3RD PASS, HE NOTICED A DROP IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE & LOSS OF POWER. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE TO THROTTLE MOVEMENTS. AFTER 2 ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENG, HE DUMPED HIS LOAD IN AN EFFORT TO COMPLETE A TURN TO A CLEAR AREA. A SET OF TV CABLES & A PAVED ROAD WERE ADJACENT TO THE FIELD IN WHICH THE PLT INTENDED TO LAND. AS HE ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR THE CABLES, THE ACFT STALLED INTO THE WIRES. AFTER HITTING THE WIRES, THE ACFT SPUN AROUND APRX 180 DEG, IMPACTED TAIL 1ST ON THE ROAD & BEGAN BURNING ABOUT 10 TO 15 SEC LATER. THE OPERATOR & A MECHANIC SUSPECTED A POSSIBLE SUPERCHARGER FAILURE. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE, THE REASON FOR THE POWER LOSS 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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,189 hours in all; 1,448 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 2,110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,839 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 1983; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: T65 Weslaco TX at 12:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.