Grumman G-164B accident near Arbuckle, California, April 19, 1984
On April 19, 1984 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N6651Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arbuckle, California (Riggs Strip airport). 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
- April 19, 1984 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Arbuckle, California · Riggs Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6651Q · no longer on the register · serial 178E
- 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 LDG WAS MADE ON AN AG AIRSTRIP WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE PLT 'FELT WHAT APPEARED TO BE EITHER A DRAGGING LEFT BRAKE AND/OR THE ROUGH SURFACE' OF THE LANDING STRIP. THE LANDING WAS ABORTED. ON THE NEXT LANDING, THE ACFT NOSED OVER WHEN THE WHEELS MADE GROUND CONTACT. AN EXAM REVEALED MARKINGS OF BRAKE LINING-TO-DISC CONTACT ALONG WITH SIGNS OF HEAT AND WEAR ON BOTH MAIN GEAR WHEELS. THE WHEELS DID TURN, BUT WITH SOME DIFFICULTY WHEN THEY WERE CHECKED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE WNW AT 15 GUSTING 25 KTS.
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: 5,380 hours in all; 990 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 5,080 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,977 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 1984; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Valley Air Service LTD
The flight
- Departed from: Arbuckle CA at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 pm from MYV, 29 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.