Grumman 164A accident near Bridgeton, New Jersey, June 8, 1992
On June 8, 1992 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Grumman 164A, registered N48399, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeton, New Jersey (Bucks 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
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER APPLICATION OF TAKEOFF POWER WHICH RESULTED IN A LENGTHENED TAKEOFF ROLL, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT STEEP TURN TO AVOID AN OBSTACLE CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO STALL AT A LOW ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1992 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeton, New Jersey · Bucks Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman 164A
- Registration
- N48399 · no longer on the register · serial 1573
- 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 AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM THE GRASS RUNWAY, BUT THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR WIRES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED. THE AIRPLANE WAS WITHIN 24 POUNDS OF THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS REPORTED AS 90 DEGREES F AND THE WINDS WERE LIGHT. A WITNESS SAID, 'THE POWER WAS NOT AT TAKEOFF DURING THE ROLL. IT APPEARED AS IF (THE PILOT) APPLIED POWER TOO GRADUALLY. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN TO AVOID THE WIRES.'
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 1,800 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 4,912 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W 985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00N at 1:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.