Grumman G-164A accident near Bald Knob, Arkansas, May 20, 1990
On May 20, 1990 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8852H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bald Knob, 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
THE POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED CAUSES. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1990 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Bald Knob, 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
- N8852H · no longer on the register · serial 1546
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE COMMERCIAL PLT SAID THAT HE NOTICED AN ENGINE VIBRATION AND LOSS OF POWER. HE DUMPED HIS LOAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, BUT WAS UNABLE, SO ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY LDG IN A RAIN SOAKED WHEAT FIELD, AND NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY FUEL CONTAMINATION OR MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION.
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: 8,100 hours in all; 4,500 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 7,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bald Knob Air Service
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 700 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from JBR, 20 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.