# NTSB FTW98LA194: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, N63E, Oberlin, LA, April 25, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 25, 1998, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Oberlin, LA - Coordinates: 30.610095, -92.759117 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6101&lon=-92.7591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20585 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20585/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA194 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor was the gusty wind. ## 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 - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis At the end of a pass to apply rice seed to a field, during the turn to reverse direction, the pilot lost control of the agricultural airplane. The airplane became inverted at an altitude of approximately 100 feet, and the pilot was unable to recover prior to ground impact. Winds reported by the pilot were from the southeast at 20 to 35 knots, and he commented that the accident could have been prevented by not flying with wind gusts greater than 35 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 25, 1998, approximately 1100 central daylight time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B agricultural airplane, was destroyed by ground impact and a post-crash fire following a loss of control while maneuvering near Oberlin, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to Red River Ag Service of Alexandria, Louisiana, and operated by Kinder Ag Service of Kinder, Louisiana. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 local aerial application flight. According to the FAA inspector who examined the accident site, the airplane was applying rice seed to a field using north-south passes. The airplane impacted in a plowed field south of the field being seeded on a magnetic heading of approximately 300 degrees, "in a nose down attitude." The pilot reported that the airplane "became inverted in left turn at altitude of 75-100 feet, [and he was] unable to recover." He further reported that the wind was from the southeast at 20 to 35 knots and commented that the accident could have been prevented by not flying "with wind gusts greater than 35 kts." At 1051, reported winds at Lake Charles, Louisiana, located approximately 35 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, were from 180 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 21 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63E), registered now, S/N 305B, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer 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: [Walter M601 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/walter-m601-series) (registry code 64002, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 305B - Engines: Walter 601E-11 777 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Kinder Ag Service - Registered owner: Red River Ag Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 1998 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 3,200 total, 2,200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 135° at 20 knots, gusting 35 ## 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 19980425007779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980425007779A), Apr 25, 1998: Scwzer G164B, Oberlin, LA, Destroyed. Pilot failed to maintain control, acft crashed and burned, Oberlin, LA. (.4)at the end of a pass to apply rice seed to a field, during the turn to reverse… ## Other investigations on N63E (2) 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 CEN10CA510](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA510), Aug 27, 2010: Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164B (N63E), Basile, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of directional control during landing due to failure of the right brake for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB DFW05LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA116), May 1, 2005: Grumman-Schweizer G-164B (N63E), Fenton, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of blockage of the firewall fuel filter with an unknown contaminant. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced… 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.