Grumman-Schweizer G-164A accident near Dubois, Idaho, July 27, 1996
On July 27, 1996 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, registered N5390, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dubois, Idaho. 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
failure of the pilot to remain clear of an irrigation spray device, which resulted in inadvertent water ingestion and flameout of the aircraft's turboprop engine. Factors relating to the accident were: the proximity of the irrigation spray device (close to the airstrip), insufficient time available to attempt an engine restart after the flameout, and high vegetation (wheat crop) in the forced landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1996 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dubois, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Registration
- N5390 · no longer on the register · serial 1147
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Immediately after takeoff, the pilot began a turn which took him within 75 feet of an operating agricultural irrigation spray device. This device was located 500 feet from the takeoff runway. The pilot reported that as he passed the device, the water stream from the device pivoted and shot a two-to-three-inch stream of water directly in front of the engine air intake of the turboprop-engine-equipped aircraft, resulting in engine flameout. This occurred at an altitude of about 75 feet above ground level. A forced landing was then made in a wheat field, where the airplane nosed over.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,134 hours in all; 3,496 in this make and model; 350 in the last 90 days; 98 in the last 30 days; 4,976 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,776 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 19, 1996; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-1 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ID at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.