Grumman G-164A accident near Valley Mills, Texas, March 9, 1992
On March 9, 1992 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N9828, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valley Mills, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POWER LOSS DUE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND THE RESULTANT MULTIPLE MAINTENANCE DISCREPANCIES. A FACTOR WAS THE WET TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 1992 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Valley Mills, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N9828 · no longer on the register · serial 1288
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DESCENT FOR AERIAL APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER ON A WHEAT FIELD, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL IN THE WET FIELD THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. A REVIEW OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE WAS APPROVED FOR AUTOMOTIVE FUEL. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN WAS CONDUCTED. SPARK PLUGS INSTALLED ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE CYLINDERS WERE NOT APPROVED BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER. THE PLUGS WERE CORRODED AND FOULED. CARBON DEPOSITS WERE FOUND IN THE OIL. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, THE VALVES, AND THE TOPS OF THE PISTONS CONTAINED CARBON DEPOSITS. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED ENGINE OVERHAUL IS BETWEEN 600 AND 1000 HOURS FOR THIS ENGINE. EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY SEVEN HOURS OF USE HAD OCCURRED WITH THIS ENGINE SINCE THE LAST OVERHAUL.
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: 17,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 175 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1991; 427 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F60 Mcgregor TX at 8:50 pm
- Destination: F60
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from ACT, 14 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N9828 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.