Grumman G-164 accident near Knobel, Arkansas, May 21, 1987
On May 21, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N484Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knobel, Arkansas. 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
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
- May 21, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Knobel, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164 · all G-164s on the register
- Registration
- N484Y · no longer on the register · serial 128
- 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 THE ACFT WAS STRUCK BY A GUST OF WIND, AND HE LOST CONTROL. THE PIC APPLIED RT RUDDER TOWARDS A 1OFT DITCH IN AN ATT TO GET OVER IT. THE ACFT WAS TOO HEAVY TO FLY OVER THE DITCH AND THE ACFT IMPACTED INTO THE DITCH. A REVIEW OF WX COND'S OBTAINED FM THE FAA FLT SVC STN AT JONESBORO, AR, INDICATED THAT WINDS WERE FM THE SOUTHWEST AT 10 KNOTS. FURTHER REVIEW INDICATED THAT FOR THE HR BEFORE AND THE HOUR FOLLOWING THE RPTD TIME OF THE ACC, THE WIND HAD NOT CHG'D DIR, OR WIND SPD FM THAT RPTD BY THE FLT SVC STN. THE PIC RPTD NO MECHANICAL CONTROL DIFFICULTY OR MALF DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL OR SUBSEQUENT TO THE ACC.
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: 4,218 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 4,218 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,227 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 5, 1987; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from JBR, 31 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.