Grumman G-164A accident near Albion, Idaho, July 19, 1989
On July 19, 1989 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8377, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albion, Idaho (Albion airport). 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 PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. THE FENCE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 1989 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albion, Idaho · Albion · 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
- N8377 · no longer on the register · serial 869
- 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 PLT RPRTD THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG BGN LOSING PWR AT ABT 150' AGL & SOUNDED LIKE THE FUEL FILTER WAS CLOGGED. HE JETTISONED THE LOAD & MADE AN EMERG LNDG IN A NEARBY FLD, BUT THE ACFT HIT A FENCE & NOSED OVER. THE OPERATOR EXAMINED THE ENG, BUT FOUND NO FAILURE. HE STATED THAT THE PLT HAD LEANED THE MIXTURE DURING TAKEOFF, THEN AFTER THE ENG LOST POWER, HE COULD NOT RESTART THE ENG IN TIME TO KEEP THE ACFT AIRBORNE.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 4,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 5,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.