Grumman G-164A accident near Merced, California, February 3, 1991
On February 3, 1991 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N969X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Merced, California (Noble Dusters 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
A DISORIENTED AND INTOXICATED AUTOMOBILE DRIVER ENTERING THE RUNWAY IN FRONT OF THE DEPARTING AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 1991 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Merced, California · Noble Dusters · 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
- N969X · no longer on the register · serial 483
- 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 AIRPLANE STRUCK AN AUTOMOBILE ON DEPARTURE FROM A PRIVATE DUSTER STRIP. A FARM WORKER AND HIS SON, WHO WERE SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, DROVE ONTO THE STRIP AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEPARTING WITH A LOAD OF CHEMICALS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS COMMITTED TO FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED PREMATURELY AND STRUCK THE TOP OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THE AIRCRAFT LOST THE RIGHT SPRAY BOOM, ELEVATOR AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
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: 5,500 hours in all; 4,500 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 5,480 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-ANI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.