Grumman G-164B accident near Princeton, Idaho, May 21, 1994
On May 21, 1994 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N50WS, was destroyed in an accident near Princeton, Idaho. 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
INADVERTENT RETARDING OF THROTTLE BY PILOT. FACTORS INCLUDE TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1994 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Princeton, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N50WS · no longer on the register · serial 140B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MAKING APPLICATION RUNS WHEN HE REACHED FOR THE SPRAY TANK HAND VALVE. HIS SHIRT SLEEVE CAUGHT ON THE THROTTLE AND PULLED IT TO THE IDLE POSITION. HE TRIED TO PUSH THE THROTTLE TO FULL AND RECOVER, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT REGAIN POWER IN TIME AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED SOME TREES. HE ATTEMPTED TO JETTISON THE SPRAY AGENT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BEFORE THE IMPACT.
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: 785 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 715 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 1994; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Fly-It-On, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PUW Pullman WA at 10:58 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.