Grumman G-164A accident near Mohave Valley, Arizona, August 14, 1983
On August 14, 1983 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6TF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mohave Valley, Arizona. 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
- August 14, 1983 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mohave Valley, Arizona · 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
- N6TF · registry record · serial 1402
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF AFTER REACHING ABOUT 15 FT AGL, THE PLT HEARD A 'LOUD BANG' & THE ACFT SHUDDERED. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. THE PLT STATED HE DECREASED THE ACFT'S PITCH ATTITUDE TO AVOID STALLING. SECONDS LATER THE LEFT WING STRUCK A POLE. THE PLT THEN LOST CONTROL & THE ACFT IMPACTED A CEMENT EMBANKMENT OF AN IRRIGATION DITCH COMING TO REST INVERTED. NO ENG MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND. THE 15-FT HIGH POST WAS LOCATED 1/2 MI FROM THE DEPARTUREPOINT. OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS ESTIMATED AT 93 DEG F.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 6,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,861 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1983; 166 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°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.