Grumman G-164B accident near Griffithville, Arkansas, March 2, 1989
On March 2, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N6610Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Griffithville, Arkansas. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ASSURE SUITABLE TERRAIN WAS BEING USED FOR THE LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Griffithville, Arkansas · 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
- N6610Q · no longer on the register · serial 4500
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT SAID THAT WHILE PRACTICING TO'S AND LDGS ON A GRASS STRIP, HE ENCOUNTERED A SOFT SPOT AND WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM NOSING OVER. THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS PRACTICING FOR POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT WITH AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION AND WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION.
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: 290 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 214 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,972 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 28, 1989; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Griffithville AR at 9:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from LIT, 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.