Grumman G-164A accident near Alamo, Texas, February 26, 1988
On February 26, 1988 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N4647, was destroyed in an accident near Alamo, Texas (Mid Valley airport). 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
- February 26, 1988 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alamo, Texas · Mid Valley · 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
- N4647 · no longer on the register · serial 1074
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CLIMB WHEN HE MADE HIS INITIAL POWER REDUCTION. THE POWER LOSS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD BANG. A SEVERE POSTACCIDENT GROUND FIRE MELTED A LARGE PORTION OF THE ENGINE. A PARTIAL ENGINE TEARDOWN WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO REVEAL THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS OR THE LOUD BANG. THE EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE CONNECTING RODS, CRANKSHAFT, ETC., REMAINED INTACT. THE GROUND FIRE FOLLOWED A FORCED LNDG AND NOSEOVER.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,965 hours in all; 750 in the last 90 days; 5,840 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,422 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1987; 172 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: CST
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 1,900 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.