Grumman G-164A accident near Bakersfield, California, June 11, 1994
On June 11, 1994 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8507H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bakersfield, California. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IN-FLIGHT FIRE DUE TO THE SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION OF SULFUR DUST AND SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING. A FACTOR WAS THE HIGH TEMPERATURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1994 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Bakersfield, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N8507H · no longer on the register · serial 1384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE LAST APPLICATION OF SULFUR DUST TO A FIELD, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT FIRE IN THE SPREADER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE SULFUR DUST HAD A SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION DUE TO THE HIGH AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,145 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1994; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Buttonwillow CA at 3:45 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 28.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from BFL
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 N8507H 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.