Grumman G-164B accident near Humphrey, Arkansas, August 16, 1988
On August 16, 1988 at about 12:10 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N8405K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Humphrey, Arkansas (Humphrey 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
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
- August 16, 1988 · about 12:10 pm local time
- Place
- Humphrey, Arkansas · Humphrey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8405K · registry record · serial 688B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A NARROW DIRT ROAD BORDERED BY CROPS, THE PLT SAID HE CONTACTED THE HIGH VEGETATION ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE ACFT BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND VEERED OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. THE PLT FELT THAT ACFT SHOULD NOT BE OPERATED OFF TERRAIN THAT WAS NOT SUITED FOR AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS.
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: 4,087 hours in all; 3,170 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 125 in the last 30 days; 4,021 as pilot in command; 66 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,352 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 28, 1988; 170 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGT Stuttgart AR at 11:45 am
- Destination: Humphrey AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from PBF, 25 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 N8405K 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.