Grumman G-164A accident near Pelham, Georgia, July 12, 2008
On July 12, 2008 at about 1:59 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7395, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Pelham, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons which led to a forced landing in unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2008 · about 1:59 pm local time
- Place
- Pelham, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N7395 · no longer on the register · serial 942
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately 2 weeks before the accident, significant unplanned maintenance was performed on the radial engine of the aerial application airplane. The activity included the removal of seven of the nine cylinders to remove fragments of piston rings, a piston skirt, and a broken governor drive gear from the engine case. Six of the removed cylinders were re-installed, and one cylinder was replaced with an overhauled cylinder and a new piston. The airplane was test flown, returned to service, and utilized for several days. On the day of the accident, one witness said that the engine was making "popping" noises before it crashed. The airplane touched down in a small clearing, but nosed over and collided with shrubs and trees. The accident site was located between the field being sprayed and the owner's airstrip. The pilot was fatally injured. Post-mortem toxicology revealed evidence of recent use of several over-the-counter, and one prescription, medications, but these medications are not typically associated with impairment. An autopsy revealed the presence of severe coronary artery disease and heart enlargement. The pilot’s physique and heart enlargement also strongly suggested that he may have suffered from obstructive sleep apnea, a condition associated with increased accident risk, but the circumstances of the accident were not consistent with impairment or incapacitation. Post accident examination of the engine revealed internal damage consistent with the engine being operated with one or more loose metallic items inside the engine case, but the damage could not be directly associated with the engine power loss. Several piston ring fragments were recovered from the engine case, but it could not be determined whether they were vestiges of previous problems, or were portions of the rings recently installed. No specific engine failure cause or mode was identified during the investigation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 24,803 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,557 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Pelham GA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Pelham GA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 1,300 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from MGR, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.