Grumman G-164A accident near El Campo, Texas, May 7, 1994
On May 7, 1994 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N9682, was destroyed in an accident near El Campo, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO ONE MAGNETO BEING WEAK AND THE OTHER MAGNETO ARCING INSIDE ITS CASE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1994 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- El Campo, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N9682 · no longer on the register · serial 1201
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS EXPERIENCED DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK POWER LINES, AND DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED, AND WAS DESTROYED BY A POST IMPACT FIRE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER; HOWEVER, TESTING OF THE MAGNETOS REVEALED THAT ONE WAS WEAK AND THE OTHER WAS ARCING INSIDE ITS CASE.
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: 3,457 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 1,759 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 106 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
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from PSX, 50 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.