Grumman G-164A accident near Trumann, Arkansas, August 26, 1995
On August 26, 1995 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8783H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trumann, Arkansas. 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 FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE TO THE PILOT TO EXECUTE THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1995 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Trumann, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N8783H · no longer on the register · serial 1527
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF AN AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING HEAVILY AND LOSING POWER WHILE SPRAYING PEA FIELDS DURING AND AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE ENGINE POWER DECREASED TO THE POINT WHERE THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. THE PILOT ELECTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING TO A CULTIVATED FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A DITCH AT THE END OF THE FIELD HE SELECTED FOR THE FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST IN THE INVERTED POSITION, RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME. THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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: 1,800 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1995; 400 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pezetel PZL-3S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JBR Jonesboro AR at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from JBR, 25 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.