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Accidents · NTSB FTW88DRG02 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Grumman SCHWEIZER G-164A accident near Edcouch, Texas, October 30, 1987

On October 30, 1987 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Grumman SCHWEIZER G-164A, registered N45691, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edcouch, Texas. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 30, 1987 · about 4:15 pm local time · cases in 1987
Place
Edcouch, Texas · 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 SCHWEIZER
Registration
N45691 · registry record · serial 1066
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

AFTER A NORMAL TAKEOFF AND CLIMB TO 200 FEET AGL THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE INTO A DRY BUT SOFT PLOWED FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED 300 FEET AND THEN NOSED OVER INTO AN INVERTED ATTITUDE AND STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVED AND PLACED ON A TEST STAND WHERE AN ENGINE RUN WAS CONDUCTED. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED. THE REASON FOR ITS PREVIOUS STOPPAGE WAS NOT DETERMINED.

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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
  • Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 6,000 in this make and model; 17,900 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 5,117 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 30, 1987; 400 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 15 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW88DRG02.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.