Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C CORP GULFSTREAM accident near Patterson, Louisiana, September 18, 2008
On September 18, 2008 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C CORP GULFSTREAM, registered N425LS, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Patterson, Louisiana (Harry P Williams Memorial 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
The loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable muddy terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2008 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Patterson, Louisiana · Harry P Williams Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gulfstream-Schweizer A/C CORP GULFSTREAM
- Registration
- N425LS · registry record · serial 598B
- 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 commercial pilot had refueled and reloaded chemical and departed the airport en route to his third spray mission of the day when the aircraft lost power. The pilot selected an open field next to the cane field that he intended to spray and set up for his forced landing. When the airplane touched down the wheels sank into the mud and nosed over coming to rest inverted. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and wing struts. The pilot stated in the pilot operator report that water was found in the fuel resupply truck and in the airplane fuel tanks.
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
- Fuel contamination during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during maneuvering
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 13,500 in this make and model; 450 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney PT6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: B & S Flyers INC
The flight
- Departed from: KPTN Patterson LA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: KPTN Patterson LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KPTN
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.
Other NTSB records under N425LS 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.