Grumman G-164 accident near Baker, Missouri, July 7, 1988
On July 7, 1988 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N6848K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baker, Missouri (Baker airport). 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
- July 7, 1988 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Baker, Missouri · Baker · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164 · all G-164s on the register
- Registration
- N6848K · no longer on the register · serial 503B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE FULLY LOADED ACFT APPEARED TO BE UNABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. ABOUT 1.5 MILE FROM THE AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT BEGAN A TURN BACK TO THE NORTH. UNABLE TO CLIMB, HE INITIATED ACTION TO DUMP HIS CHEMICAL LOAD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR POWER LINES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INVERTED IN A FLOODED RICE FIELD. ABOVE NORMAL TEMP & HUMIDITY RESULTED IN AN ABOVE NORMAL DENSITY ALTITUDE. WITNESSES RPRTD THE ENG SOUNDED NORMAL DURING FLT. THE PLT SUFFERED TOXIC CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION & WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. NO POWERPLANT OR CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.
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: 2,982 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from CGI, 40 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.