Grumman G-164B accident near Arizona City, Arizona, July 28, 1991
On July 28, 1991 at about 11:30 am local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N6681Q, was destroyed in an accident near Arizona City, Arizona. 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK TO AVOID THE COLLISION WITH THE POWER TRANSMISSION LINES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS THAT PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1991 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Arizona City, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6681Q · no longer on the register · serial 1700
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GRUMMAN 164B COLLIDED WITH POWER TRANSMISSION WIRES DURING A NIGHT AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS SPRAYING A COTTON FIELD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT WAS USING SPOT LIGHTS INSTALLED ON THE AIRPLANE FOR THE PURPOSE OF NAVIGATING IN THE FIELD AND OBSTRUCTION DETECTION. A BLUE MOUNTAIN AVIATION NIGHT FLYING LIGHT KIT WAS INSTALLED ON THE AIRPLANE. THE ALTERATION/MODIFICATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND INSTALLATION OF THE LIGHTS IS AUTHORIZED BY AN APPROVED FAA SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all; 680 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 919 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 1991; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Al-Don Dusting Svc., INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 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.