Schweizer AG CAT accident near Samson, Alabama, July 26, 1985
On July 26, 1985 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Schweizer AG CAT, registered N3629K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Samson, Alabama. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1985 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Samson, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schweizer AG CAT
- Registration
- N3629K · registry record · serial 748B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED IN A FORCED LNDG AFTER A PWR LOSS DURING A SWATH RUN. DURING THE LDG A PWR LINE WAS STRUCK AND THE ACFT WAS PULLED SIDEWAYS WHICH CAUSED A GROUNDLOOP AND RESULTED IN DAMAGES. LYON FLYING SERVICES OF WELSH LA DISMANTLED THE ENG & FOUND NO REASON FOR ENG STOPPAGE OR POWER LOSS. THE TEMPERATURE & DEW POINT WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICING.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,903 hours in all; 675 in this make and model; 119 in the last 90 days; 118 in the last 30 days; 2,863 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 375 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 16, 1985; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0J7 Samson AL at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from DHN, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N3629K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.