Grumman G-164A accident near Stuttgart, Arkansas, May 13, 1983
On May 13, 1983 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7497, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stuttgart, Arkansas. 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1983 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stuttgart, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N7497 · registry record · serial 976
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LOADING THE ACFT WITH 50 GAL OF WATER, THE PLT TOOK OFF TO CONDUCT AERIAL APPLICAITON MANEUVERS & TO CALIBRATE THE ACFT'S SPRAY BOOM. AT THE END OF THE 1ST SWATH RUN ON A WESTERLY HEADING, HE PULLED UP OVER A POWER LINE, TURNED 90 DEG RIGHT, REVERSED THE TURN & WAS PASSING THRU A HEADING OF ABOUT 170 DEG WHEN THE ACFT STALLED. REPORTEDLY, THE PLT WAS TIGHTENING HIS TURN TO PRECLUDE OVERSHOOTING & WAS AT APRX 130 FT AGL WHEN THE STALL OCCURRED. THE ACFT IMPACTED ON ITS LEFT WING & CARTWHEELED TO A STOP. THE PLT REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 180 DEG AT 15 GUSTING 20 KTS.
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: 356 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 144 in the last 90 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Stuttgart AR at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.