Grumman G-164A accident near Coy, Arkansas, April 20, 1985
On April 20, 1985 at about 2:05 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8729H, was destroyed in an accident near Coy, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. 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
- April 20, 1985 · about 2:05 pm local time
- Place
- Coy, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N8729H · registry record · serial 1502
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE APPROACHING A FIELD TO DISPENSE RICE, THE ACFT STRUCK A SET OF POWER LINES. THE PLT HAD FLOWN OVER THE SAME SET OF POWER LINES FOR NEARLY 2 HOURS. THE FLAGMEN STATED THEY HEARD THE ACFT STRIKE THE WIRES AND ONE OF THE WIRES MADE A 'POP' AS IF BEING SEPARATED FROM THE POLE. THE REMAINDER OF THE THREE LINES STAYED WITH THE ACFT DURING THE DESCENT. THE WIRES WERE LYING BY THE ACFT WHICH HAD FLIPPED INVERTED AND CAUGHT FIRE. AN ACFT INSPECTION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES OF THE FLT CONTROLS OR ENGINE COMPONENTS.THE TRANSMISSION LINES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE FROM THE GROUND AND AIR, BLENDING WITH THE BACKGROUND COLORING.
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
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,766 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Rebel Aviation Service
The flight
- Departed from: Coy AR at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 1:45 pm from PBF, 18 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 N8729H 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.