Grumman G-164B accident near Brighton, Arkansas, June 19, 1991
On June 19, 1991 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N48370, was destroyed in an accident near Brighton, Arkansas. 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
(1) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE WIRES AND (2) THE WIRE'S SUBSEQUENT INTERFERENCE WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1991 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brighton, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N48370 · no longer on the register · serial 8B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO PULLING UP FROM ITS SECOND SWATH RUN, FIRST IN THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A SET OF ELECTRICAL WIRES AT THE END OF THE FIELD. FOLLOWING THE INITIAL WIRE STRIKE, THE AIRPLANE FLEW ABOUT 1/4 MILE TRAILING ABOUT 15 FEET OF 3/8 INCH WIRE UNTIL THE WIRE STRUCK AND SEVERED A SECOND SET OF WIRES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO PITCH UP, ROLL LEFT, THEN PITCH NOSE DOWN AND IMPACT THE GROUND. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TRAILING WIRES WERE ENTANGLED ON THE RIGHT WING, INCLUDING THE AILERON GAP, AND ON THE EMPENNAGE CONTROL SURFACES.
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: 3,025 hours in all; 3,025 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,303 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 12, 1991; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Marmaduke AR at 3:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.