Grumman G164 accident near Louise, Texas, April 18, 2025
On April 18, 2025 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1973 Grumman G164, registered N5416, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Louise, Texas. 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 reported loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 18, 2025 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Louise, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G164 A, built 1973 · all G164s on the register
- Registration
- N5416 · registry record · serial 1030
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 20 minutes after departing on a local flight, the pilot reported that the engine completely stopped producing power, and he performed a forced landing to corn field. During the forced landing, substantial damage was sustained to the airplane’s wing. After the accident, the airplane was recovered to the pilot’s property, and a mechanic performed a limited examination. He was able to rotate the propeller within a limited range and confirmed that the engine was not seized. In addition, there were no cracked or obvious failures with the engine case and components. Fuel was being supplied to the carburetor, and the magnetos appeared to operate. Several attempts to perform a comprehensive engine examination were not successful.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,184 hours in all; 288 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,066 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 20, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,782.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 AN-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nelson Flyers INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 20 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from KARM, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KARM 181555Z AUTO 17020G24KT 10SM BKN028 BKN035 BKN044 28/20 A2998 RMK AO2 T02770203 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 16, 2026. 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 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation Mechanic | 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 N5416 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.