Grumman G-164B accident near Pixley, California, February 1, 1995
On February 1, 1995 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N705Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pixley, 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 total failure of the number three cylinder. The wet and soft terrain were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 1995 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Pixley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N705Y · registry record · serial 315
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETING AN AERIAL APPLICATION SPRAY RUN, THE PILOT EXECUTED A CLIMBING 90/270-DEGREE TURN. DURING THE TURN, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A WET, FRESHLY-PLOWED OPEN FIELD AND SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER. THE POSTACCIDENT ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER WAS SPLIT BETWEEN THE SPARK PLUGS.
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: 11,812 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 11,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,657 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1994; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Earlimart CA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 345° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°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.
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.