Grumman-Schweizer G-164B accident near Rosharon, Texas, May 15, 2001
On May 15, 2001 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164B, registered N6778K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rosharon, Texas (Private Airstrip 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 pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering. Factors were the weather conditions and the muddy terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2001 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rosharon, Texas · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164B
- Registration
- N6778K · no longer on the register · serial 467B
- 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 aerial application flight departed the dirt airstrip to the east, turned downwind, and flew about 500 yards, when the airplane started loosing "airspeed and altitude." The pilot applied full power and started dumping the load of dry fertilizer; however, the "airplane would not recover." The airplane impacted the wet rice field, the main landing gear sunk into the mud, and the airplane flipped to the inverted position. The pilot reported the wind was from 180 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 18 knots with moderate turbulence and dust devils in the area.
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: 939 hours in all; 612 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 880 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,020 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 17, 2001; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,743 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W 1340R-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Rosharon TX at 7:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 090, 2,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
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.