Grumman G-164B accident near Kaplan, Louisiana, June 3, 1983
On June 3, 1983 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Grumman G-164B, registered N48503, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kaplan, 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 1983 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Kaplan, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164B · all G-164Bs on the register
- Registration
- N48503 · no longer on the register · serial 54B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE DEPARTING FROM A PRIVATE STRIP, THE PLT TOOK OFF TO THE NORTH IN CALM WINDS. WHEN HE RETURNED TO LAND, THE WIND HAD BEGUN BLOWING FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 20 KTS; THUS, HE ELECTED TO LAND TOWARD THE SOUTH. A TRUCK WAS PARKED AT THE APCH END OF THE STRIP, REQUIRING THE PLT TO MANEUVER AROUND IT PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. AS HE WAS BANKING THE ACFT TO THE LEFT TO ALIGN IT WITH THE RWY, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A CLUMP OF GRASS & GROUND LOOPED TO A STOP, DAMAGING BOTH WINGS, THE FUSELAGE & ENG MOUNTS, THE PLT HAD A MEDICAL WAIVER FOR VISION TO FLY AFTER 1 EYE HAD BEEN SURGICALLY REMOVED.
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: 20,000 hours in all; 290 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 23, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 6,075 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.