Grumman G-164A accident near Willows, California, May 19, 1983
On May 19, 1983 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N48381, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willows, 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 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 19, 1983 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Willows, 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
- N48381 · no longer on the register · serial 1622
- 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 COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED HE NOTICED SIGNS OF A 'POWER LOSS'. TRYING TOLAND ON A HIGHWAY HE ABANDONED HIS APPROACH BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC AND HEADED FOR A PLOWED FIELD. WITHOUT TIME TO JETTISON HIS LOAD HE DID NOT CLEAR A DITCH LEVEE, IT CAUGHT THE MAIN GEAR AND THE ACFT BOUNCED INTO THE FIELD WHERE IT NOSED OVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND NO CAUSE FOR MALFUNCTION COULD BE FOUND.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,210 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 30, 1983; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from C1C, 21 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.