Grumman G-164B accident near Wellman, Iowa, June 26, 1986
On June 26, 1986 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N48532, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wellman, Iowa. 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 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
- June 26, 1986 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Wellman, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N48532 · no longer on the register · serial 62B
- 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 PIC STATED THAT DURING THE LAST 3RD OF HIS PROCEDURE TURNAROUND THE ACFT DESCENDED TO JUST BELOW THE POWERLINES AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD HE WAS SPRAYING. THE ACFT STRUCK THE POWERLINES WITH THE MAIN LANDING GEAR WHICH NOSED THE ACFT OVER. FULL POWER WAS ADDED JUST BEFORE THE ACFT HIT THE POWERLINES. THE PIC STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER TO LEVEL FLT BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE PIC STATED THAT THIS TURN WAS MADE DOWNWIND AND THAT IT WAS SHORTER THAN HE LIKED SO AS TO AVOID OVERFLYING HOUSES NEAR THE FIELD.
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: 851 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 851 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,874 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1986; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wellman IA at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from CID, 23 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 N48532 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.