Grumman G-164A accident near Buhl, Idaho, July 29, 1995
On July 29, 1995 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N48471, was substantially damaged in an accident near Buhl, Idaho. 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
THE LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF AN ENGINE CYLINDER. THE CHEMICAL LOAD WAS NOT DUMPED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE SEVERITY OF INJURIES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1995 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Buhl, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N48471 · no longer on the register · serial 1652
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOT HAD TAKEN OFF WITH A CHEMICAL LOAD TO SPRAY A FIELD, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A LOSS OF POWER. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AFTER CONTACTING A FENCE, CRUSHING THE FUSELAGE AFT OF THE LOWER WING TRAILING EDGE. THE CHEMICAL LOAD HAD NOT BEEN DUMPED, AND THE EXTRA MASS OF THE LOAD AGGRAVATED THE DAMAGE THAT THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED IN THE COCKPIT AREA. THE CABLE FOR MANUAL ACTIVATION OF THE SALVO DOOR WAS FOUND TO BE BROKEN. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED IF THE CABLE FAILURE PREEXISTED OR WAS THE RESULT OF THE CRASH. THE #4 CYLINDER EXHAUST ROCKER ARM BOSS WAS FOUND CRACKED AROUND ITS ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE, AND THE INTAKE VALVE PUSHROD WAS BENT.
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
- Flight time: 14,669 hours in all; 535 in this make and model; 169 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,790 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1994; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Departed from: U03 ID at 6:12 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from TWF
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.