Grumman G-164B accident near Maricopa, Arizona, August 1, 1984
On August 1, 1984 at about 8:00 am local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N6689Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maricopa, 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 1, 1984 · about 8:00 am local time
- Place
- Maricopa, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6689Q · registry record · serial 205B
- 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 PLT ADDED FUEL AND CHEMICALS FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 230 GALLONS OF CARGO. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 87 DEGREES AND THE ARPT ELEVATION IS 1100 FT. THE DENSITY ALT WAS NOT COMPUTED AND PERFORMANCE NOT ASSESSED. AFTER TAKEOFF IN A CROSSWIND TURN THE ACFT 'QUIT FLYING'. THE PLT SAID HE 'ADDED POWER' AND DUMPED THE LOAD BUT HIT A POWER LINE WITH THE TAILWHEEL. THE ACFT BOUNCED AND NOSED OVER. THE ACTUAL IMPACT WAS ON A DOWNWIND HEADING AS HE WAS TURNING 180 DEGREES TO SPRAY A FIELD JUST ADJACENT TO THE AIRPTRIP. THE PLT MADE NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTION OF FURTHER ACCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE.
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: airplane
- Flight time: 10,800 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 1984; 3,650 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: San Tan Dusters INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Maricopa AZ at 8:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:30 am
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.