Grumman G164A accident near Snelling, California, April 5, 1986
On April 5, 1986, a Grumman G164A, registered N8932H, was destroyed in an accident near Snelling, California (Kelsey Ranch 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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1986
- Place
- Snelling, California · Kelsey Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164A · all G164As on the register
- Registration
- N8932H · registry record · serial 1571
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED HE HAD JUST LIFTED OFF DURING TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENG QUIT. THE ACFT THEN STALLED, HITTING A CANAL AND SHEARING OFF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE PLT STATED THAT A BROKEN FUEL LINE IS SUSPECT DUE TO THE SUDDEN STOPPAGE AND INTENSE GROUND FIRE. THE ENG HAD APRX 20 HRS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 24,500 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,730 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 1986; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX86DVA05.