Grumman 164A accident near Garwood, Texas, April 20, 1990
On April 20, 1990 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Grumman 164A, registered N5295, was substantially damaged in an accident near Garwood, Texas. 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
FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 8 CYLINDER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1990 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Garwood, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman 164A
- Registration
- N5295 · no longer on the register · serial 579
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
VERY SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT HEARD A 'HISSING SOUND' AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED DUMPING HIS CHEMICAL LOAD. HE WAS HOLDING THE NOSE UP IN AN EFFORT TO STAY AIRBORNE AND COMPLETE THE DUMP WHEN ALL POWER WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE THEN STALLED FROM ABOUT 20 FEET AND NOSED OVER UPON IMPACT. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AREA OF THE NUMBER NINE CYLINDER, WHICH RAN FORE AND AFT THROUGH THE SPARKPLUG HOLES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 8,950 hours in all; 8,640 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 8,923 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1990; 147 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:58 pm
- 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 |
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.