Grumman G-164A accident near Buckeye, Arizona, August 22, 1985
On August 22, 1985 at about 4:45 am local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N5297, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona (Chatham airport). 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 22, 1985 · about 4:45 am local time
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · Chatham · 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
- N5297 · registry record · serial 583
- 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 HAD JUST COMPLETED A SPRAY RUN AND WAS EXECUTING A PROCEDURE TURN WHEN THE ENGINE'S NO. 8 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD FAILED. ENGINE OIL COVERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE DEPARTURE AIRSTRIP BUT HE COULD NOT ALIGN THE ACFT WITH THE DIRT STRIP DUE TO THE PLT FORWARD VISIION BEING OBSTRUCTED. ON TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT WHEELS DUG INTO THE SOFT DIRT AREA CAUSING THE ACFT TO NOSE OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THERE WAS NO POST IMPACT FIRE. THE CONNECTING ROD FRACTURE MODE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED; THE FRACTURE SURFACE WAS OBLITERATED.
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
- Flight time: 18,962 hours in all; 4,500 in this make and model; 266 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 18,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,124 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1985; 223 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,725 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:45 pm
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.