Grumman G-164B accident near Portland, Arkansas, July 28, 1989
On July 28, 1989 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N8116K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Portland, Arkansas (Reed, Pvt 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
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FAILURE OF AN ENGINE CYLINDER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1989 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Portland, Arkansas · Reed, Pvt · 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
- N8116K · registry record · serial 572-B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE PLT SAID THAT HE EXPERIENCED A GRADUAL LOSS OF POWER. HE DUMPED HIS CHEMICAL LOAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO HIS BASE AIRFIELD. ENROUTE, THE ENGINE QUIT COMPLETELY, AND AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED IN A SOFT FARM FIELD, THAT RESULTED IN A NOSE OVER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION RVEALED #1 CYLINDER HAD FAILED CAUSING THE POWER FAILURE.
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: 19,400 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,861 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 27, 1989; 152 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chris Air INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Portland AR at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:48 pm from GLH, 25 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.