Grumman G-164A accident near Tallulah, Louisiana, July 3, 1985
On July 3, 1985 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8375, was destroyed in an accident near Tallulah, Louisiana. 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
- July 3, 1985 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Tallulah, Louisiana · 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
- N8375 · no longer on the register · serial 867
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AG PLT REALIZED THAT HE COULD NOT CLEAR WIRES AT THE END OF THE RWY. THE PLT DUMPED HIS LOAD OF FERTILIZER AND ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER AROUND THE WIRES, HOWEVER DURING THE MANEUVER, THE ACFT STALLED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT GROUND PERSONNEL HAD SUBSTITUTED AMMONIUM NITRATE FOR UREA IN THE FERTILIZER LOAD, INCREASING THE ACFT'S GROSS WEIGHT BY 800 LBS. THE PLT WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE SUBSTITUTION PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. BY VOLUME, AMMONIUM NITRATE IS HEAVIER THAN UREA.
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: 95 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,062 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 1985; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 91°F (33°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.