Piper PA24-260 and Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B mid-air collision near Abbeville, Louisiana, March 28, 2008
On March 28, 2008 at about 4:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA24-260 (N9097P) and Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B (N36289), were involved in a mid-air collision near Abbeville, Louisiana. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other approaching airplane. A contributing factor was the close proximity between the two private airstrips.
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other approaching airplane. A contributing factor was the close proximity between the two private airstrips.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 28, 2008 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Abbeville, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA24-260 · all PA24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N9097P · registry record · serial 24-4573
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N36289 · no longer on the register · serial 746B
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA24-260 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A low-wing airplane and a bi-wing airplane collided while each airplane was on final approach to two separate private airstrips. The runways were perpendicular to one another and about one mile apart. The application spreader on the bi-wing airplane impacted the rudder and vertical stabilizer on the low-wing airplane. During the impact, the application spreader separated from the bi-wing airplane and the rudder and vertical stabilizer on the low-wing airplane sustained structural damage. Both pilots were able to land successfully at their respective airstrips.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B final · quoted from the NTSB record
A low-wing airplane and a bi-wing airplane collided while each airplane was on final approach to two separate private airstrips. The runways were perpendicular to one another and about one mile apart. The application spreader on the bi-wing airplane impacted the rudder and vertical stabilizer on the low-wing airplane. During the impact, the application spreader separated from the bi-wing airplane and the rudder and vertical stabilizer on the low-wing airplane sustained structural damage. Both pilots were able to land successfully at their respective airstrips.
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 for the Piper PA24-260 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0R3 Abbeville LA at 5:15 pm
- Destination: Abbeville LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from ARA, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Schweizer Aircraft CORP G-164B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 20,000 in this make and model; 25,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 26, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Vincent Flying Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: Abbeville LA
- Flight plan: none
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 N9097P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DFW08LA089.