Grumman G-164A accident near Altair, Texas, September 14, 1990
On September 14, 1990 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6566, was destroyed in an accident near Altair, 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
THE PILOT'S USE OF IMPROPER TERRAIN FOR TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1990 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Altair, Texas · 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
- N6566 · no longer on the register · serial 704
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FIRST DEPARTURE OF THE DAY THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ACCELERATE SUFFICIENTLY TO GET AIRBORNE AND CLEAR EIGHT FOOT TALL WEEDS AT THE SOUGH END OF THE PRIVATE STRIP. THE AIRPLANE GOT AIRBORNE AT THE END OF THE STRIP BUT THE CHEMICAL SPREADER ON THE BOTTOM OF THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE TALL WEEDS. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRSPEED, AND A SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH AN EARTHEN IRRIGATION DIKE. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ABOUT 200 FEET FROM INITIAL IMPACT AND POST IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED THE WRECKAGE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ABOUT 50 FEET OF THE STRIP WAS COVERED BY TWO FOOT TALL WEEDS AND THAT THE REST OF THE TAKEOFF SURFACE WAS A HARD SURFACE DIRT CRUST WITH A SPONGY UNDER LAYER.
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: 6,500 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,298 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1990; 1,250 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Aero-Ag Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 7:42 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°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.