Grumman-Schweizer G-164A accident near Basile, Louisiana, July 1, 2002
On July 1, 2002 at about 12:50 pm local time, a Grumman-Schweizer G-164A, registered N8917H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Basile, Louisiana. 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 as a result of fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable 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
- July 1, 2002 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Basile, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Registration
- N8917H · no longer on the register · serial 1614
- 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 pilot had just completed his fourth spray load of the morning and was returning for the next load when the engine began running rough and started to backfire. He checked the magnetos, propeller, and throttle lever, and found everything to be "normal." The engine continued to backfire, and not being able to maintain altitude, the pilot elected to make a forced landing in a rice field. After touchdown, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. An examination by a certified mechanic revealed no anomalies which would have prevented normal engine operation. The reason for the partial loss of engine power was undetermined.
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: 1,230 hours in all; 882 in this make and model; 254 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 1,207 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 19, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,875 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kib Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Basile LA at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
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.