Grumman 164A accident near Richvale, California, May 11, 1995
On May 11, 1995 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Grumman 164A, registered N8507H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richvale, California (Cherokee Strip airport). 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
the pilot's failure to maintain a glidepath adequate to avoid an obstacle, and his inadequate compensation for the wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1995 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Richvale, California · Cherokee Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman 164A
- 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
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT APPROACHING RUNWAY 18 AT THE AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO LOW AND TOO SLOW AND IT STARTED TO MUSH. THE PILOT CONTINUED WITH THE APPROACH AND LANDING, AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A 'BOBTAIL' TRUCK. AT THE TIME, THE WIND WAS FROM 180 DEGREES AT 15 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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,724 hours in all; 450 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,155 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1995; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Avag, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.
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.