# NTSB FTW97LA335: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N8075K, Marksville, LA, September 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 1997, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Marksville, LA - Coordinates: 31.120929, -92.059776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1209&lon=-92.0598&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20334 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA335 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20334/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA335 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent stall during a turn to reverse direction during an aerial application flight. A factor was the pilot's chronic fatigue as result of cumulative long workdays. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - fatigue(chronic), pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in the process of executing a turn to reverse direction upon completion of an aerial application pass, when the airplane stalled. Subsequent to the loss of control, the airplane impacted the ground in a left wing low and nose down attitude and came to rest in an open pasture. The pilot acknowledged that there was no mechanical malfunction prior to the loss of control. The pilot stated that in the 90 days preceding the accident he had accumulated 500 hours of flight time and the fact that he was trying to do too much probably caught up with him. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 1997, at 0830 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B agricultural airplane, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while maneuvering near Marksville, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The airplane departed from an airstrip near Vick, Louisiana, approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. According to the FAA inspector who traveled to the accident site, the pilot was in the process of executing a turn to reverse direction upon completion of an aerial application pass, when the airplane stalled. Subsequent to the loss of control, the airplane impacted the ground in a left wing low and nose down attitude and came to rest in an open pasture. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed that both top wings and the main landing gear assembly incurred sustained structural damage. In the enclosed pilot/operator report, the pilot acknowledged that there was no mechanical malfunction prior to the loss of control. In the same document the pilot reported that in the 90 days preceding the accident, he had accumulated 500 hours of flight time. In a telephonic interview conducted by the investigator in charge, the pilot stated that the accident occurred during the first flight of the day. He added that in the morning of the accident "he felt refreshed and alert following a good night's sleep." He further stated that "his work days for the previous 4 to 5 months had been long, normally working long days from sunrise to sunset" spraying the rice and cotton crops, as well as the boll weevil infestation. The pilot further stated that "the fact that he was trying to do too much probably caught up with him" since he had gone from one contract to the other without rest. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8075K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8075K-2004-10-13), registration cancelled 2004-10-13, S/N 560B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B - Registry model: [Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C GULFSTREAM AM G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-schweizer-a-c-gulfstream-am-g-164b) (registry code 3979904) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 560B - Airframe hours: 11000 - Engines: P&W PT6-20B 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: William S. Kingrey - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: NONE, VICK, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 2,200 total, 1,700 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 19970901024919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970901024919A), Sep 1, 1997: Scwzer G164B, Marksville, LA, Substantial damage. Aircraft climbed and turned to make another pass when aircraft stalled and crashed. (-23) on September 1, 1997, at 08:30 central daylight time, a Grumman,… ## Other investigations on N8075K (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW92DPG16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92DPG16), Sep 22, 1992: Gulfstream G-164B (N8075K), Holly Grove, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: LOSS OF ENGINE POWER UNDETERMINED. FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.