Grumman G-164A accident near Schlater, Mississippi, July 19, 1989
On July 19, 1989 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N4579, was substantially damaged in an accident near Schlater, Mississippi (Pee Dee Plantation 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
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN THE SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY. THE TAILWINDAND DIRT BANK WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1989 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Schlater, Mississippi · Pee Dee Plantation
- 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
- N4579 · registry record · serial 1063
- 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 PLT BEGAN TAKING OFF IN A QUARTERING TAILWIND WITH 1600 LBS OF FERTILIZER & 70 GALS OF FUEL. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT STRUCK A LEVEE AT THE END OF THE STRIP & NOSED OVER IN A RICE FIELD. THE PLT'S CLASS II MED CERT WAS DATED 5/4/88.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,100 hours in all; 310 in this make and model; 310 in the last 90 days; 140 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 310 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Agri-Flex, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from GWO, 15 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.
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.