Grumman G-164A accident near Yuba City, California, May 11, 2006
On May 11, 2006 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N4892, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yuba City, California. 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 pilot's failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed during the takeoff initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2006 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Yuba City, California · 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
- N4892 · no longer on the register · serial 1093
- 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 airplane stalled during departure from the airstrip and collided with trees. The airplane was loaded with 1,800 pounds of chemical and the temperature was approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit. During the initial climb, the pilot realized that the airplane would not be able to clear the trees at the end of the runway. He attempted an avoidance maneuver but the airplane stalled and impacted trees. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,750 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 2,670 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Twin Cities Aviation L.L.C.
The flight
- Departed from: Yuba City CA
- Flight plan: none
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.