Grumman G-164A accident near Sommerset, Louisiana, July 25, 1990
On July 25, 1990 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7854, was destroyed in an accident near Sommerset, Louisiana (Somerset airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE ABOVE CROPS AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1990 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sommerset, Louisiana · Somerset · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N7854 · registry record · serial 802
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE SOD STRIP THE AIRPLANE FLEW INTO A THREE FOOT TALL BEAN FIELD AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE MAIN WHEELS CONTACTED THE CROPS CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SLIDE TO A STOP ON ITS SIDE. POST IMPACT FIRE ERUPTED VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM THE WRECKAGE, BUT SUCCUMBED TO BURN INJURIES ONE WEEK AFTER THE ACCIDENT. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 1,600 FEET.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,300 hours in all; 3,300 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 125 in the last 30 days; 3,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,728 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 1990; 100 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
- Operator: Farm Air Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.