Grumman G-164C accident near Butte City, California, May 26, 1992
On May 26, 1992 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Grumman G-164C, registered N6596K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Butte City, California (Jones Flying Service 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW NORMAL PROCEDURES BY SELECTING THE WRONG RUNWAY. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFT OFF AND THE EXISTING TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1992 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Butte City, California · Jones Flying Service · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164C · all G-164Cs on the register
- Registration
- N6596K · registry record · serial 06
- 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 WAS DEPARTING TO THE SOUTH FROM THE PRIVATELY OWNED AIRSTRIP ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE PILOT INITIATED A PREMATURE LIFT-OFF TO AVOID A PARKED LOADER TRUCK AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER LIFT OFF THE FLYING SPEED AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL WERE MINIMAL AND THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE CENTERLINE. THE AIRPLANE'S TAILWHEEL STRUCK A SIGN POST SLIGHTLY BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY, STALLED AND CRASHED. THE PILOT REPORTED THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM THE NORTH AT 3 KNOTS.
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: 8,680 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days; 8,680 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,492 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 23, 1992; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,800 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 N6596K 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.