Grumman G-164 accident near Rayville, Louisiana, June 30, 1986
On June 30, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164, registered N964X, was destroyed in an accident near Rayville, Louisiana (Rayville airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 30, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rayville, Louisiana · Rayville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164 · all G-164s on the register
- Registration
- N964X · no longer on the register · serial 509
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING TAKEOFF AFTER LOSING PWR DURING A TURN AT 150 FT AGL. THE PLT SAID THAT THE ACFT STALLED AND HIT IN A COTTON FIELD ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE ARPT. THE PLT ALSO SAID OIL HIT THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT 3 SECONDS BEFORE PWR FAILURE. THE ACFT WAS LOADED WITH 1600 LBS OF FERTILIZER. THE PLT SAID THAT EARLIER RECOGNITION OF THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF PWR COULD HAVE POSSIBLY PREVENTED THIS ACCIDENT. THE PWR LOSS CAUSE IS 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, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 642 hours in all; 382 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 576 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,975 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 23, 1986; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.