Grumman G-164 accident near Liverpool, Texas, October 29, 1992
On October 29, 1992 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N637U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Liverpool, 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 LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE BLOWER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AT THE PILOT'S DISPOSAL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 1992 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Liverpool, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164 · all G-164s on the register
- Registration
- N637U · no longer on the register · serial 373
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE ON A RYE GRASS SEEDING FLIGHT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS THE PILOT STARTED TO BANK THE AIRPLANE TO REVERSE DIRECTION AT THE TOP OF THE TURN. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO ROLL THE WINGS LEVEL AND DROP THE NOSE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED UNTIL JUST ABOVE THE TREES, WHERE HE STALLED THE AIRPLANE AND SETTLED INTO THE TREES. THE POWER LOSS WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE BLOWER BEARINGS.
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: 2,535 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,360 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,778 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 1992; 197 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-14B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6R5 Alvin TX at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from HOU, 22 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.
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.