Grumman G-164A accident near Maxwell, California, May 7, 1999
On May 7, 1999 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8875H, was destroyed in an accident near Maxwell, California (Private Airstrip 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
Failure of the pilot to attain and maintain the proper reference climb airspeed during the rotation and initial climb, which resulted in a stall/mush condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1999 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Maxwell, California · Private Airstrip · 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
- N8875H · registry record · serial 1556
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
This was the 18th flight of the day and the pilot was departing with a full load of seed. After takeoff, at 20 feet agl, the airplane began to settle and the pilot could not arrest the descent prior to ground impact. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical abnormalities with the engine prior to the impact and that the engine was developing full power. The pilot stated that the winds may have shifted from a headwind to a crosswind on takeoff. He stated that winds at the accident site were from the north at 2-3 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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,278 hours in all; 870 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 1,203 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,578 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 3, 1999; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from CIC, 30 miles away
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 N8875H 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.