Grumman G-164B accident near Esparto, California, April 4, 1990
On April 4, 1990 at about 8:29 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N8011K, was destroyed in an accident near Esparto, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE AIRPLANE'S CLEARANCE WITH THE TRANSMISSION WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1990 · about 8:29 pm local time
- Place
- Esparto, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8011K · no longer on the register · serial 538 B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL SPRAYING OPERATIONS. BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLT, THE PLT APPRISED THE FLAGGERS OF HIS FLIGHT PATH, WHICH WAS TO BEGIN AT THE CENTER OF A TOMATO CROP FIELD AND TRAVERSE IN AN EAST TO WEST DIRECTION. DURING THE FIRST LOAD, THE PLT FLEW BENEATH NORTH/SOUTH TRANSMISSION WIRES. DURING THE SECOND LOAD, HE BEGAN A SWATH RUN FROM A WEST TO EAST DIRECTION. AS THE ACFT CAME TO THE TRANSMISSION WIRES, THE PILOT BEGAN A CLIMB, BUT THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A WIRE. THE FUEL TANK RUPTURED CAUSING AN INFLT FIRE AND THE AIRPLANE PLUMMETED TO THE GND.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,410 hours in all; 6,700 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,090 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 1990; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MAST Esparto CA at 8:27 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 134° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:49 pm from SMF, 20 miles away
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.