Grumman G164 accident near Brinkley, Arkansas, June 15, 1989
On June 15, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Grumman G164, registered N8367K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brinkley, Arkansas. 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 FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION. THE PILOT EXECUTED A LANDING IN A FLOODED RICE FIELD WHICH DID NOT PERMIT A SUCCESSFUL LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brinkley, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164 · all G164s on the register
- Registration
- N8367K · no longer on the register · serial 665B
- 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 PIC HAD BEEN PERFORMING A SWATH RUN TO A FIELD WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PIC WAS ABLE TO EXECUTE A LANDING IN A FLOODED RICE PADDY, BUT FLIPPED INVERTED UPON CONTACT WITH THE WATER. THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO CONTAMINATED FUEL IN THE SYSTEM. THE FUEL FARM WHERE THE PIC ORGINALLY FUELED HIS ACFT WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH WATER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1989; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Henry'S Aero Service
The flight
- Departed from: Brinkley AR at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from LIT, 35 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.