Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B accident near Light, Arkansas, May 29, 2023
On May 29, 2023 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1977 Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B, registered N6678Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Light, Arkansas. 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
The pilot exceeding the climb capability of the airplane during takeoff which led to it settling into the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2023 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Light, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman Acft Eng Cor-Schweizer G-164B, built 1977 · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6678Q · no longer on the register · serial 199B
- 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 reported that on departure, the airplane settled to the ground and struck a levee. The airplane came to rest upside down in a field about 100 feet from the point of impact. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, horizontal stabilizer, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The accident occurred shortly after takeoff from a private turf/dirt strip used only for agricultural operations. The pilot reported that the airplane was about 320 pounds below its maximum gross weight of 6,070 lbs., that the density altitude at the time of the accident was about 2,000 feet msl, and that he turned “a little premature” after taking off with a full load of fertilizer.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 22, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 6,070 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hds INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from KARG, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KARG 291556Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM CLR 24/14 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP164 T02440139
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 27, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Operator | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N6678Q 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.