Grumman G164-A accident near Rondo, Arkansas, July 16, 1990
On July 16, 1990 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Grumman G164-A, registered N7802, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rondo, Arkansas (Wooten 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 POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1990 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rondo, Arkansas · Wooten · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164-A · all G164-As on the register
- Registration
- N7802 · no longer on the register · serial 991
- 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 AERIAL APPLICATION AIRPLANE DEPARTED WITH A FIVE KNOT TAILWIND EN ROUTE TO A RICE FIELD. THE AIRPLANE 'SEEMED A LITTLE WEAK' AND THE PILOT STAYED IN GROUND EFFECT FOR ABOUT ONE MILE. IN A GRADUAL RIGHT TURN AT ABOUT 30 FEET AGL 'THE ENGINE POPPED, PICKED BACK UP, BACKFIRED, AND DIED.' THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DUMP HIS LOAD, IMPACTED ON A GRAVEL ROAD, HIT A DITCH, AND SLID INTO A COTTON FIELD. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE ENGINE BUT FOUND NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 1,900 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1990; 291 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°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.