Grumman G-164B and Grumman G-164 mid-air collision near Blythe, California, April 19, 1990
On April 19, 1990 at about 5:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Grumman G-164B (N6708K) and Grumman G-164 (N10222), were involved in a mid-air collision near Blythe, California. 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF N6708K AND N10222 TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N6708K TO FOLLOW A PREARANGED PROCEDURE FOR REVERSING THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT.
FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF N6708K AND N10222 TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF N6708K TO FOLLOW A PREARANGED PROCEDURE FOR REVERSING THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 1990 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Blythe, California · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6708K · no longer on the register · serial 374B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Grumman G-164 · all G-164s on the register
- Registration
- N10222 · registry record · serial 22
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Grumman G-164B final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLTS OF 2 GRUMMAN G-164 ACFT (N6708K & N10222) PRE-ARRANGED TO CONDUCT AERIAL APPLICATION AT THE SAME FLD. THEY AGREED TO ENTER THE FLD AT OPPOSITE ENDS ON OPPOSITE HEADINGS & PERFORM A RACETRACK PATTERN. AT THE COMPLETION OF EACH SWATH, A LEFT TURN WAS PLANNED & THE SEQUENCE WAS TO BE REPEATED UNTIL THE APPLICATION WAS COMPLETED. A GROUND WITNESS RPRTD THAT AFTER COMPLETING A SWATH RUN, ONE OF THE ACFT (N6708K) TURNED TO THE RIGHT & INTO THE PATH OF THE OTHER ACFT (N10222). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Grumman G-164 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLTS OF 2 GRUMMAN G-164 ACFT (N6708K & N10222) PRE-ARRANGED TO CONDUCT AERIAL APPLICATION AT THE SAME FLD. THEY AGREED TO ENTER THE FLD AT OPPOSITE ENDS ON OPPOSITE HEADINGS & PERFORM A RACETRACK PATTERN. AT THE COMPLETION OF EACH SWATH, A LEFT TURN WAS PLANNED & THE SEQUENCE WAS TO BE REPEATED UNTIL THE APPLICATION WAS COMPLETED. A GROUND WITNESS RPRTD THAT AFTER COMPLETING A SWATH RUN, ONE OF THE ACFT (N6708K) TURNED TO THE RIGHT & INTO THE PATH OF THE OTHER ACFT (N10222). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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 for the Grumman G-164B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,817 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 6,872 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Blythe CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:00 pm from BLH, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Grumman G-164 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,606 hours in all; 5,500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,580 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 6,872 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Blythe CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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 N6708K 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.