Casualties unknown

1988-08-16: Grumman G-164B (N8405K) — Farmers Aerial Seeders — Humphrey, AR

Humphrey, AR, US

On August 16, 1988, a Grumman G-164B (registration N8405K) operated by Farmers Aerial Seeders was involved in an aviation accident near Humphrey, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Contact with high vegetation on the right side during landing attempt, leading to loss of control and nose-over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot attempting to land on a narrow dirt road bordered by crops contacted high vegetation, causing the aircraft to veer right into a ditch and nose over.

What happened

The incident occurred while the pilot was attempting to land an aircraft on a narrow dirt road. The surrounding terrain consisted of crops bordering the roadway. During the approach and landing phase, the pilot reported that the aircraft made contact with high vegetation located on the right side of the runway.

Following this initial contact, the aircraft began to veer toward the right. In response, the pilot attempted to correct the trajectory by steering to the left. However, the control inputs were insufficient to keep the aircraft on the paved or graded surface. The aircraft continued its deviation off the roadway and entered a ditch. The impact caused the nose of the aircraft to overturn.

The investigation

Post-accident examination confirmed that the primary damage resulted from the aircraft leaving the intended landing surface. The pilot noted that the terrain was not suited for standard aircraft operations, highlighting the risks associated with unimproved airstrips bordered by obstacles such as high crops.

Findings

The sequence of events indicates that the narrow width of the dirt road and the proximity of high vegetation created a hazardous environment for landing. The pilot's assessment suggests that operating in such terrain requires careful evaluation of obstacle clearance and runway width availability.

Probable cause

Contact with high vegetation on the right side during landing attempt, leading to loss of control and nose-over.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X26659. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.