Grumman G164A-450 accident near Queen Creek, Arizona, September 29, 1991
On September 29, 1991 at about 5:30 am local time, a Grumman G164A-450, registered N16SS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Queen Creek, Arizona. 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
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE CYLINDER, PRODUCING A LOSS OF POWER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LOCATION OF AN IRRIGATION DITCH NEXT TO THE LANDING AREA AND A DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1991 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Queen Creek, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164A-450 · all G164A-450s on the register
- Registration
- N16SS · no longer on the register · serial 1309
- 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 CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AERIAL SPRAYING OPERATIONS OVER A COTTON FIELD AT NIGHT. WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SPRAY RUN, THE PILOT NOTICED SPARKS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE ATTEMPTED TO GAIN ALTITUDE AS THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD NEXT TO THE FIELD. DURING THE TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DITCH ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE AIRPLANE THEN BOUNCED AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT A CYLINDER HAD A CIRCUMFERENTIAL SEPARATION NEAR THE TOP OF THE COOLING FINS.
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: 6,182 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,387 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1991; 267 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R985AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: K & K Aerial Applicators INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Queen Creek AZ at 5:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.