Grumman G164 accident near Burkittsville, Maryland, October 9, 1999
On October 9, 1999 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Grumman G164, registered N7856, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burkittsville, Maryland. 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 vehicle drivers inadequate lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 9, 1999 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Burkittsville, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164 A · all G164s on the register
- Registration
- N7856 · registry record · serial 805
- 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 stated he had an understanding with the owner of the property he was working on, that all occupants of the property had been notified of the airplane's operations and that the area would be kept clear. The pilot did recall noticing a roadblock on the road used for takeoffs and landings. On the twelfth takeoff from the dirt road, as the tail of the airplane lifted off the ground, the pilot noticed a truck driving towards him about 50 feet ahead. The pilot attempted an evasive maneuver to avoid the truck, but impacted the front bumper of the truck with the main landing gear of the airplane. The airplane nosed over the truck and came to rest inverted. According to the owner of the property, the driver of the truck resided on the premises and was made aware that airplane activities were being conducted on the farm.
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: 5,251 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 89 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 5,211 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,296 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1998; 147 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN-1413 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 4:59 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from HGR, 160 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.
Other NTSB records under N7856 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.