Grumman G-164A accident near Gridley, California, July 1, 1988
On July 1, 1988 at about 6:35 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7933, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gridley, California (Terhel Farms 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
- July 1, 1988 · about 6:35 pm local time
- Place
- Gridley, California · Terhel Farms · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N7933 · no longer on the register · serial 818
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT WING CAUGHT ON HIGH WEEDS. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, VEERED OFF THE LANDING STRIP, AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH PARALLELING THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DUE TO THE RUNWAY HAVING NUMEROUS POT HOLES, LANDINGS WERE CONDUCTED ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 2,935 hours in all; 2,137 in this make and model; 401 in the last 90 days; 245 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 21, 1988; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Live Oak CA
- Destination: Gridley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°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.
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.