Grumman G164B accident near Yuba City, California, May 14, 1991
On May 14, 1991 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Grumman G164B, registered N48658, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yuba City, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FATIGUE IN THE PROPELLER BLADE WHICH LED TO ITS ULTIMATE FAILURE. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE SOFT TERRAIN CONDITIONS ON WHICH THE AIRPLANE LANDED AND A BERM ACROSS THE AIRPLANE'S GROUND PATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1991 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Yuba City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164B · all G164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N48658 · no longer on the register · serial 1258
- 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 PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. AS THE AIRPLANE NEARED THE COMPLETION OF A PROCEDURE TURNAROUND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE PILOT REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND LANDED IN A RICE FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE PILOT OBSERVED A BERM AND APPLIED FULL BRAKING AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER DISCLOSED THAT A 6 INCH SECTION OF THE TIP END OF ONE BLADE SEPARATED. THE FRACTURED AREA DISPLAYED FATIGUE STRIATION SIGNATURES.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 600 in the last 90 days; 250 in the last 30 days; 25,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,617 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 6, 1991; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wagner Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 95 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 pm from MYV, 4 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.
Other NTSB records under N48658 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.