Grumman G164A and Grumman G164A mid-air collision near Hankamer, Texas, April 15, 1986
On April 15, 1986 at about 4:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Grumman G164A (N8751H) and Grumman G164A (N8696H), were involved in a mid-air collision near Hankamer, Texas. 2 people were killed. 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 15, 1986 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hankamer, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Grumman G164A · all G164As on the register
- Registration
- N8751H · no longer on the register · serial 1510
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Grumman G164A · all G164As on the register
- Registration
- N8696H · no longer on the register · serial 1474
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Grumman G164A final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO GRUMMAN AG CATS OPERATED BY THE SAME AIR SERVICE COLLIDED IN MID AIR. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS ONE WAS DEPARTING AND THE OTHER WAS RETURNING TO A TEMPORARY AIR STRIP ADJACENT TO THE FIELDS THEY WERE FERTILIZING. WITNESSES INDICATED THAT BOTH PILOT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE OTHER BY PULLING UP. LOW CHOLINERASE WAS FOUND IN THE TOXICOLOGICAL SAMPLE OF THE OLDER PILOT, WHO WAS THE OWNER OF THE AIR SERVICE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Grumman G164A final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO GRUMMAN AG CATS OPERATED BY THE SAME AIR SERVICE COLLIDED IN MID AIR. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS ONE WAS DEPARTING AND THE OTHER WAS RETURNING TO A TEMPORARY AIR STRIP ADJACENT TO THE FIELDS THEY WERE FERTILIZING. WITNESSES INDICATED THAT BOTH PILOT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE OTHER BY PULLING UP. LOW CHOLINERASE WAS FOUND IN THE TOXICOLOGICAL SAMPLE OF THE OLDER PILOT, WHO WAS THE OWNER OF THE AIR SERVICE.
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 for the Grumman G164A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,182 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 30, 1986; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-ANI (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Grumman G164A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,025 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 10, 1986; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.