Grumman G-164A accident near Vernalis, California, February 29, 1992
On February 29, 1992 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N5408, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vernalis, California. 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
THE OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY COMPLY WITH AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE AFFECTING THE SECOND-STAGE TURBINE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNCONTAINED FAILURE OF THE SECOND-STAGE TURBINE WHEEL AND THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 29, 1992 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vernalis, California · 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
- N5408 · registry record · serial 981
- 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 EXPERIENCED AN UNCONTAINED SEPARATION OF THE SECOND-STAGE STATOR TURBINE WHEEL WHILE EXECUTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION PROCEDURE TURN. THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE WAS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE PILOT TO ALIGN IT WITH THE CULTIVATED FURROWS. THE LANDING WAS NORMAL BUT THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK DURING THE LANDING ROLL WHEN THE WHEELS DUG INTO THE FURROWS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE'S LOGBOOK DISCLOSED THAT THE OPERATOR HAD NOT PROPERLY COMPLIED WITH AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD) 86-08-06. THIS AD REQUIRES RADIOGRAPHIC INSPECTION OF THE SECOND-STAGE STATOR TURBINE WHEEL ASSEMBLY.
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; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,729 hours in all; 1,773 in this make and model; 128 in the last 90 days; 88 in the last 30 days; 7,412 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,058 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1991; 362 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331-43BL (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; 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.