# NTSB FTW81DRJ13: Grumman G-164B, N6809Q, Mer Rouge, LA, April 28, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 28, 1981
- Place: Mer Rouge, LA · MER ROUGE, LA
- Location: 32.7769° N, 91.7944° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mer Rouge, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7769&lon=-91.7944&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126237
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81DRJ13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DRJ13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0864  81/4/28  NR.MER ROUGE,LA       GRUMMAN G-164B      CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 35, 3585
        TIME - 1900                    N6809Q              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 1200 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BACON
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         MER ROUGE,LA                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED WRONG RUNWAY RELATIVE TO EXISTING WIND
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF POWERPLANT & POWERPLANT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 3000                       KIND OF OPERATION - SEEDING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - RICE                                      TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  80                  SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- ON DWNWND T/O PLT FAILED TO ADVANCE PROP TO MAX RPM.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6809Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6809Q-2026-09-21), registration cancelled 2026-09-21, S/N 317B, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN G-164B
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 3952802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental R-975 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-r-975-series) (registry code 17037, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Bacon

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810428020419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810428020419A), Apr 28, 1981: Grumav G164B, Mer Rouge, LA, Substantial damage. Downwind takeoff. Full load, warm day, premature liftoff. Struck wires on climbout.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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