Amateur-built G164-B accident near Near Madera, California, April 1, 1983
On April 1, 1983 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built G164-B, registered N31184, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Madera, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- April 1, 1983 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Near Madera, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built G164-B
- Registration
- N31184 · no longer on the register · serial 6B
- 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 ACFT HIT A CHUCK HOLE IN HIGH GRASS DURING TAKEOFF ROLL FROM A FIELD FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION MISSION. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING FROM THE FIELD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: 7,929 hours in all; 6,458 in this make and model; 182 in the last 90 days; 7,176 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,473 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1982; 156 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,800 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.
Other NTSB records under N31184 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.