Grumman 164B accident near Tracy, California, September 30, 1983
On September 30, 1983 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Grumman 164B, registered N6708K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tracy, 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
- September 30, 1983 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Tracy, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman 164B
- Registration
- N6708K · no longer on the register · serial 374B
- 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 CRASHED DURING A FORCED LANDING SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT ABOUT 10 FT AGL. HEAVY RAINHAD FALLEN THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE ACFT ARE GENERALLY PARKED OUTSIDE. AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER THE PLT LANDED OFF THE END OF THE RWY AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED ONE SPARK PLUG TO BE WATER SOAKEDEXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME DISCLOSED THE MAIN FUEL CAP SEAL TO BE 'BADLY CRACKED'. NO OTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED. THE PLT DID NOT STATE IF HE DRAINED THE FUEL DURING HIS PRE-FLT INSPECTION.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,291 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 6, 1983; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PW-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 1,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°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 N6708K 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.