Grumman G-164A accident near Stuttgart, Arkansas, March 11, 1989
On March 11, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N9874, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stuttgart, Arkansas (Stuttgart 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE BLOWER ASSEMBLY DRIVE SHAFT, WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE, AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL BEFORE HE COULD LAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stuttgart, Arkansas · Stuttgart · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N9874 · registry record · serial 1307
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS HE WAS LINING UP TO MAKE HIS FIRST SWATH RUN, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. ALSO, HE STATED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOSING ALTITUDE AND POWER, IT GOT TO ABOUT TELEPHONE POLE HEIGHT, THEN IT STALLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AT A STEEP ANGLE. A POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE SUPERCHARGER SHAFT HAD SHEARED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS POWER. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FULLY LOADED WITH FUEL AND DRY FERTILIZER, WHEN IT CRASHED.
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: 306 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 223 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1989; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hartley Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SGT Stuttgart AR at 9:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MKC89LA079.