Grumman-Schweizer G-164B accident near Starbuck, Washington, June 12, 1998
On June 12, 1998 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, registered N8252K, was destroyed in an accident near Starbuck, Washington. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain adequate visual lookout. A contributing factor was the unmarked transmission lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1998 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Starbuck, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N8252K · no longer on the register · serial 635B
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While engaged in spraying pesticide over rye grass along a rural road, the Grumman 'AgCat' biplane impacted several power/phone lines which the pilot reported he did not see. The lines were unmarked. The power poles supporting the lines were approximately 1,000 feet apart and the catenary would have been near its low point in the vicinity of the crossing point (diagonally) over the road.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 310 in the last 90 days; 125 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,547 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,020 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ALW Walla Walla WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from ALW, 27 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.