Grumman G-164A accident near Franklin, Louisiana, September 8, 1989
On September 8, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7498, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, Louisiana. 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
FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE PROPELLER BLADE, WHICH RESULTED IN SEPARATION OF THE BLADE'S TIP AND SEVERE ENGINE VIBRATION. THE SOFT TERRAIN WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Louisiana · 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
- N7498 · no longer on the register · serial 945
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AG PILOT HAD JUST FINISHED SPRAYING A LOAD OF CHEMICALS & WAS IN A TURN TO LOOK AT THE NEXT FIELD TO BE SPRAYED, WHEN THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. HE REDUCED POWER & TURNED TO LINE UP WITH A TURNROW FOR A FORCED LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT ROLLED ABOUT 300 YARDS ON SOFT TERRAIN, THEN NOSED OVER AS THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID A DITCH. A INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 13 INCHES OF ONE PROPELLER BLADE WAS MISSING. A EXAM OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE SHOWED INDICATIONS OF A PRE-EXISTING CRACK ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE BLADE.
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: 5,034 hours in all; 328 in this make and model; 375 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 5,034 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,833 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1989; 328 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°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.