Grumman G-164A accident near Osceola, Arkansas, April 13, 1989
On April 13, 1989 at about 11:40 am local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7245, was substantially damaged in an accident near Osceola, Arkansas. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRPLANE, WIRES, AND THE GROUND DURING THE AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DIRTY WINDSHIELD, SUNGLARE, TRANSMISSION LINE (WIRES), AND SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1989 · about 11:40 am local time
- Place
- Osceola, Arkansas · 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
- N7245 · registry record · serial 916
- 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 PLT SAID THAT WHILE PERFORMING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, HE ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDER SOME POWER LINES. AS THE ACFT WAS GOING UNDER THE WIRES, THE MAIN GEAR CONTACTED FRESHLY PLOWED SOIL, THEN THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE PLT SAID HE THOUGHT THAT HAVING A DIRTY WINDSHIELD WHILE FLYING DIRECTLY INTO THE RISING SUN & THE LOCATION OF THE POWER LINES CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: 600 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 550 as pilot in command; 50 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Osceola Air Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 7M4 Osceola AR at 11:30 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from MEM, 30 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.