Grumman G-164A accident near Klamath Falls, Oregon, August 5, 1983
On August 5, 1983 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N6664Q, was destroyed in an accident near Klamath Falls, Oregon. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1983 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Klamath Falls, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N6664Q · no longer on the register · serial 1698
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DRAGGED A WING IN A LAKE AND CARTWHEELED DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD TURNED AWAY FROM THE FIELD HE WAS SPRAYING TO REMOVE THE BUGS FROM HIS WINDSHIELD. THE ACFTS WING STRUCK A LAKE SURFACE IN THE TURN, CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST UNDER 5 FT OF WATER. THE PILOT STATED THE BUGS WERE SO THICK THAT HE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING VISUAL REFERENCE.
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: 3,190 hours in all; 1,050 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 3,130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,551 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LMT Klamath OR at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from LMT1, 12 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.