Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G 164B accident near Lyons Point, Louisiana, May 11, 2016
On May 11, 2016 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1981 Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G 164B, registered N8362K, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Lyons Point, Louisiana (Merrit Landing Strip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to debris contamination of the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2016 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lyons Point, Louisiana · Merrit Landing Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G 164B B, built 1981 · all G 164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8362K · no longer on the register · serial 662B
- 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 pilot departed for the seventh of fifteen planned aerial application flights that day; the engine subsequently lost total power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a rice field. A fuel sample drained from the airplane following the accident was cloudy and contained floating debris. Postaccident examination of the fuel system revealed a significant amount of debris, including grass, leaves, insects, and dirt, in the fuel control filter and airframe filter bowl. Further examination of the fuel filter assembly revealed that the inlet and outlet holes of the filter housing, as well as the filter inlet hose, contained debris of sufficient quantity to result in a disruption of fuel flow to the engine. Whether the pilot conducted a preflight inspection could not be determined; however, a fuel sample taken prior to the flight would likely have displayed contamination.
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
What happened, in order
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Fuel contamination during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Related operating info
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,560 hours in all; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 4,560 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 13, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,936.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 15, 2016; 6,565 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Vincent Flying Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: Lyons Point LA
- Destination: Lyons Point LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KIYA, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.