Boeing A75N1 accident near Pleasant Grove, California, May 8, 1982
On May 8, 1982 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Boeing A75N1, registered N68820, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pleasant Grove, California (Catlett AG Strip airport). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1982 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Pleasant Grove, California · Catlett AG Strip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing A75N1 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N68820 · registry record · serial 75-5350
- 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 REPORTED THAT HE LANDED TOWARD THE NORTH WITH THE WIND FROM THE NORTHEAST AT 8 TO 10 KNOTS. WHEN THE TAILWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED RIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE COULD NOT STOP THE TURN. HE OPENED THE THROTTLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FARM TRACTOR AND PICKUP TRUCK BESIDE THE STRIP, FATALLY INJURING THE TRACTOR OPERATOR. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED NO PRECRASH MALFUNCTIONS. APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AWAY, THE WIND WAS REPORTED FROM 080 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS (PER SMF SA 1445 WEATHER REPORT). THREE WITNESSES REPORTED THE WIND FROM THE SOUTHEAST AT 7 KNOTS, EAST AT 4 KNOTS, AND NORTHEAST AT 3 KNOTS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,775 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 95 in the last 90 days; 10 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,782 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,717 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Farm Air Fly Sv, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Pleasant Grove CA at 8:30 am
- Destination: Pleasant Grove CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 127°F (53°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 N68820 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.