Grumman G-164A accident near Abbeville, Louisiana, May 28, 1988
On May 28, 1988 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Grumman G-164A, registered N7203, was substantially damaged in an accident near Abbeville, 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
- May 28, 1988 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Abbeville, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-164A · all G-164As on the register
- Registration
- N7203 · no longer on the register · serial 891
- 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 AG PLT HAD FINISHED SPREADING HIS LOAD OF CHEMICALS & WAS LANDING WHEN THE LEFT BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE. HE STARTED TO APPLY PWR FOR A GO-AROUND, BUT THE ENG COUGHED & DID NOT RESPOND PROPERLY. THE PLT THEN CLOSED THE THROTTLE & APPLIEDRGT BRAKE TO AVOID EQUIPMENT AT THE END OF THE STRIP. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED & THE RGT GEAR COLLAPSED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED HYDRAULIC FLUID HAD LEAKED FROM THE LEFT BRAKE, BUT NO ENG PROBLEM WAS FND.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,000 hours in all; 15,000 in this make and model; 275 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days; 18,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,545 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 1988; 217 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Abbeville Air Service
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.