Grumman G-164A accident near Gillett, Arkansas, August 20, 1988
On August 20, 1988 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6567, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gillett, Arkansas (Gordon Private Strip 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 20, 1988 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gillett, Arkansas · Gordon Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N6567 · no longer on the register · serial 706
- 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 EN ROUTE TO ENGAGE IN AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE PLT SAID THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISFIRE AND CUT OUT. UNABLE TO CORRECT THE MALFUNCTION, THE PLT DUMPED HIS CHEMICAL LOAD AND BEGAN RETURNING TO THE DEPARTURE AIRSTRIP. EN ROUTE, HE FELT HE WOULD NOT MAKE IT BACK TO THE AIRSTRIP SO HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD. DURING THE ROLL OUT ON THE SOFT BEAN FIELD, THE ACFT NOSED OVER AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BLOWN CYLINDER.
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: 7,458 hours in all; 6,774 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Trites Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Gillett AR at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 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 N6567 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.