Grumman G-164A accident near Rayne, Louisiana, May 19, 1988
On May 19, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N8657H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rayne, Louisiana (Ashton 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
- May 19, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rayne, Louisiana · Ashton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N8657H · no longer on the register · serial 1449
- 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 MADE SEVEN PREVIOUS TAKEOFFS IN THAT AIRPLANE, THAT DAY, ON THE SAME AIRSTRIP. ON THIS ONE, THE OAT WAS 93 DEGREES F. THE ELEVATION WAS 10 FEET MSL AND THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 2300 FEET. THE AIRPLANE WAS 388 POUNDS OVERWEIGHT AND THE CG WAS .5 INCH BEHIND AFT LIMIT. ON TAKEOFF, THE PILOT SAW HE WAS NOT CLIMBING AND DUMPED HIS LOAD OF FERTILIZER BUT STILL HIT TREES AND THEN THE GROUND.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,220 hours in all; 1,130 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 18,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,319 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1988; 144 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from LA35, 12 miles away
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.