Grumman-Schweizer G-164B accident near Texarkana, Arkansas, March 4, 2006
On March 4, 2006 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, registered N6641Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Texarkana, 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 loss of engine power due to a cracked cylinder. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 2006 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Texarkana, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N6641Q · no longer on the register · serial 171B
- 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 828-hour commercial pilot of the single-engine agricultural application airplane, took off from a 3,500-feet long by 100-feet wide private grass strip on a northerly heading. During climb-out, as the pilot initiated a turn to the east, the engine began to vibrate and run rough, and subsequently lost power. The pilot reported that he activated the dump valve to release the insecticide payload in order to lighten its weight. The pilot then stated that the airplane "rolled to the left past 80-degrees. " The airplane impacted muddy terrain in a near vertical attitude. The airplane was equipped with a 5-point restraint system that held the pilot in place. Examination of the radial engine by the operator revealed the number three cylinder was cracked.
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: 828 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 828 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,445 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2005
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Texarkana AR at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from TXK, 15 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.
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.