Grumman G-164A accident near Elaine, Arkansas, August 22, 1988
On August 22, 1988 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6661Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elaine, Arkansas (Fess Private 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 22, 1988 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elaine, Arkansas · Fess Private · 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
- N6661Q · no longer on the register · serial 1695
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE PILOT SAID THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER BREAKING GROUND ON TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE QUIT. HE ATTEMPTED TO RE-LAND ON THE REMAINING AVAILABLE RUNWAY, BUT RAN OFF THE END, HITTING A DITCH AND NOSING OVER. CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,913 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 1988; 428 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fess Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Elaine AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,800 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PBF, 60 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.