Gulfstream-Schweizer GULFSTREAM AM G-164B accident near Poston, Arizona, July 29, 1985
On July 29, 1985 at about 5:30 am local time, a Gulfstream-Schweizer GULFSTREAM AM G-164B, registered N8133K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poston, Arizona. 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
- July 29, 1985 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Poston, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gulfstream-Schweizer GULFSTREAM AM G-164B GULFSTREAM
- Registration
- N8133K · registry record · serial 579B
- 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 REPORTED WEATHER CONDITIONS DURING THE NIGHT AERIAL APPLICATION FLT WERE 'CLEAR AND WINDS OF 15 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KTS. AFTER THREE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO LINE UP FOR THE SPRAY RUN, THE PLT SAID HE ALLOWED THE ACFT TO 'GET TOO LOW AND SLOW' WHILE TURNING FOR ANOTHER RUN AND WAS LATE RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM AND ADDING POWER. AS THE ACFT SETTLED TOWARD THE GROUND, THE PLT TRIED TO JETTISON THE HOPPER LOAD WITH LESS THAN FULL DUMP GATE CONTROL HANDLE MOVEMENT, BUT THE GATE DID NOT FUNCTION. AFTER TOUCHDOWN IN THE PLOWED FIELD, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. FUNCTIONAL TESTING OF THE DUMP GATE AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THAT IT WORKED WITH FULL CONTROL HANDLE MOVEMENT.
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: 3,200 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 140 in the last 30 days; 3,031 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,926 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1985; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Poston AZ at 5:20 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 335° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.
Other NTSB records under N8133K 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.