Grumman G-164A accident near Laplace, Louisiana, September 21, 2024
On September 21, 2024 at about 2:15 pm local time, a 1970 Grumman G-164A, registered N6565, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Laplace, Louisiana (N/A airport). 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
Total loss of engine power during the agricultural application flight for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2024 · about 2:15 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Laplace, Louisiana · N/A · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A, built 1970 · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N6565 · registry record · serial 722
- 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 he had just completed an agricultural application pass and had entered a turn to setup for the next pass, when he heard a “pop” from the engine and felt the airplane slow down. His efforts to restore engine power were not successful. He dumped the application load and executed a forced landing to a road. After touching down, he maneuvered the airplane to avoid a tractor parked along the side of the road. Unfortunately, the left wing struck the sugar cane crop adjacent to the road causing damage to the lower wings, wing struts, and landing gear. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not identify any preimpact anomalies consistent with an inability of the engine to produce rated power.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,737 hours in all; 2,594 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 2,737 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 12, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,975 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2024; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-53H1G (piston); 7,466 hours total
- Operator: AG Air INC
The flight
- Departed from: L83 Thibodaux LA at 2:00 pm
- Destination: L83 Thibodaux LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from KMSY, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMSY 211353Z 01007KT 10SM FEW055 28/25 A2995
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on January 10, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Conversation Summary -- FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Conversation Summary -- Recovery Personnel | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records -- Airframe | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Records -- Engine | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6565 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Grumman G-164 119 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Grumman 443 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-53H1G 1,229 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Thibodaux Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Louisiana 1,274 since 1982 · 188 in the last ten years
- Louisiana 3,727 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN24LA364.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.