Grumman G-164B accident near Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, July 5, 1986
On July 5, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N6915K, was involved in an accident near Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6915K · no longer on the register · serial 421-B
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF THE GRUMMAN AG CAT ALLOWED 2 PARACHUTISTS TO BOARD THE RESTICTED CATAGORY ACFT FOR A PARACHUTE JUMPING FLT. EACH PARACHUTIST WAS POSITIONED ON A WING WITH HIS ARM CROOKED AROUND THE RESPECTIVE WING CENTER STRUT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PARACHUTIST ON THE RGT WING FELL OFF & PLUNGED TO HIS DEATH. AN EXAM OF HIS CHUTES REVEALED THAT THE MAIN CHUTE HAD BARELY STARTED TO OPEN & THE RESERVE CHUTE WAS NOT DEPLOYED. WITNESSES BELIEVED THAT THE PARACHUTIST FELL FROM ABOUT 400 TO 500 FT AGL. WITNESS TESTIMONY & A POST MORTEM EXAM OF THE DECEASED REVEALED THAT HIS RGT ARM WAS WEAKER THAN HIS LEFT ARM DUE TO A PREVIOUS INJURY & SURGERY. THE OWNER OF THE ACFT WAS NOT AWARE OF, NOR DID HE APPROVE OF, THE USE OF THE ACFT FOR PARACHUTE JUMPING.
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: 6,903 hours in all; 5,100 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 9,775 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from SJU, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.