- Date
- May 22, 2023, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Gueydan, LA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8337KGulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G-164BN8331KGulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G-164D
- Defining events
- Landing: Collision during takeoff/landTakeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Baton Rouge FSDO
- FAA reports
- 20230522004292A20230522004302A
- Case key
- 192225
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other resulting in a collision on the airstrip. Contributing was the pilots’ failure to announce their intentions over their radios as they were taking off and landing.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
N8337K · Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G-164B
N8331K · Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G-164D
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
N8337K · Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G-164B
N8331K · Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G-164D
Analysis
The two airplanes were conducting agricultural operations at a private airstrip. The pilot of the landing airplane reported that, while airborne, he noticed the departing airplane was being loaded at the tender truck. The pilot of the landing airplane estimated that he would have enough time to land and clear the runway before the departing airplane was finished loading. The pilot of the departing airplane reported that after loading, he positioned his airplane on the runway and began his takeoff roll. Meanwhile, the pilot of the landing airplane touched down in the opposite direction of the departing airplane. The pilot of the landing airplane reported that while he was slowing down on the landing roll, he looked over his airplane’s hopper and noticed the departing airplane rolling toward him. The pilot of the landing airplane attempted to veer out of the way of the departing airplane but was unsuccessful. The left wing of the landing airplane struck the left wing of the departing airplane. The landing airplane sustained substantial damage to both left wings, the fuselage, the horizontal stabilizer, and the elevator. The departing airplane sustained substantial damage to all four wings and the fuselage. Both pilots reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation. Both pilots reported that neither made a radio call announcing their intentions.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N8337K
- Reported as
- Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17D
- Built
- 1980
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney PT634AG, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Vincent Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Cajun Cats LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 6, 2023
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N8331K
- Reported as
- Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C Gulfstream AM G-164D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 16D
- Built
- 1980
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Vincent Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Church Street Holding LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 9, 2023
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N8337K
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2
- Last flight review
- January 31, 2023
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 14,050 total · 13,500 in this make and model · 14,050 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N8331K
- Age
- 65
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 24,000 total · 9,000 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- KLFT, 29 nm away
- METAR
- KLFT 221553Z VRB03KT 8SM CLR 26/18 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP152 T02560183,M
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 21.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8337K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.