Grumman G-164A accident near Buckeye, Arizona, July 13, 1983
On July 13, 1983, a Grumman G-164A, registered N9863, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona (Pierce airport). 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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1983
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · Pierce · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N9863 · registry record · serial 1303
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF THE ACFT FLEW ABOUT 1/4 MILE WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT JETTISONED HIS LOAD BUT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALT. THE ACFT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD 3/4 MILE FROM THE SERVICE STRIP. AN EXAMINATIONOF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE RIGHT MAGNETO DISTRIBUTOR GEAR TEETH (PART # GE 52189) WERE STRIPPED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,150 hours in all; 2,130 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 5,012 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,435 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 1983; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E55 Buckeye AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 108°F (42°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX83LA332.